Shunted senior IPS officer and former Siliguri Police Commissioner K Jayaraman tended to withstand intense political pressure, holding hisground and showing no remorse for arresting IAS officer and Malda District Magistrate Godala Kiran Kumar named in misappropriation case worth `100-crore.
The IG-ranked officer known for his supreme integrity who left Siliguri on Sunday evening leaving back a politically sensitive case and a posse of junior colleagues literally in tears to report to his superiors at the new State secretariat at Nabanna in Howrah on Monday showed no nerves even as he strutted up 13 floors avoiding the lift and the prodding newsmen reportedly told his superiors that he did not regret his action and was not interested in going on leave.
According to sources in the Home Department, the top officer who incurred the wrath of Chief Minister for “exceeding his brief” by arresting the DM who is named in the multi-crore alongwith a network of ruling party politicians including MlAs and councillors refused to budge when asked to “express regrets for not following the protocol.”
He repeated his earlier stance insisting he had followed the law in the interest of public service. On Monday he met the Director General of Police and Special IG who reportedly asked him to “clarify” his action.
The officer — who had earlier shot into prominence after arresting CPI(M) MlA and former Minister Sushanto Ghosh of Choto Angaria-Garbeta fame and former MP laxman Seth an alleged mastermind of Nandigram massacre — was reportedly asked by the “administration” whether he was willing to go on leave. He refused saying he would prefer to continue as “officer incompulsory posting” before insisting he had done the right thing and had no regrets for arresting the DM.
The deposed officer was shunted out within hours of arresting the Malda Collector for reported “breach of protocol and embarrassing the State Government” but not taking prior clearance to arrest him.