Karnataka IPS officer P Ravindranath resigns citing 'harassment'; 'no pressure at all' says state govt

Bengaluru: A senior IPS officer, P Ravindranath, posted in Karnataka resigned from his position on Wednesday, citing mental harassment by those close to the ruling party in the state. "I`m prematurely transferred with the intention of harassment since I`ve taken legal action against people involved in fake caste certificate issue," Ravindranath said in his resignation letter.

Ravindranath was recently transferred to the training wing of Karnataka Police. He was reportedly unhappy with the posting and had met Karnataka DGP before submitting his resignation to the Chief Secretary.

His resignation has snowballed into a big political controversy in the BJP-ruled state with the Opposition now targeting the ruling dispensation for harassing the senior govt officials. 

Former Karnataka CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy said, ''Both Congress and the BJP have an internal understanding between them. They're running this Govt illegally. That's why I requested this Govt not to accept his resignation but give free hand to him.'' 

Kumaraswamy alleged that the benefit of reservation is being enjoyed by several people with the help of fake documents. "The actual beneficiaries are actually being let down by this govt. If there is any transparency in the administration of this government, they must reject this resignation,'' the JDS leader said.

Reacting to the issue, Karnataka Home Min Araga Jnanendra said, "If at all any officer was under any pressure, he must have given the complaint to a higher officer in inquiry. Resignation is not the solution, I didn't even know about his resignation.''

If at all any officer was under any pressure, he must have given the complaint to a higher officer in inquiry. Resignation is not the solution, I didn't even know about his resignation: Karnataka Home Min Araga Jnanendra on resignation of senior IPS officer P Ravindranath (1/2) pic.twitter.com/bdXgV9Uxzl — ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2022

The Karnataka Home Minister also said that there was no pressure at all on any senior government officials. "I've asked the officials of the Police department & I got information that he had given a complaint to the Chief Secretary but Chief Secretary isn't in town. I've not got any information related to it. There is no pressure at all,'' the Karnataka Home Minister said.

Claiming that such resignations come during the tenure of every government, his cabinet colleague and Karnataka Minister Shivaram Hebbar said, "Such resignations come during the tenure of every government, not only during the tenure of BJP government. They say they are doing this under pressure but sometimes there are some different internal matters. I don`t know why did he resign."

"Senior officers take their own decision. He has not blamed the government. Someone who works will always be under the pressure of one or the other kind. I am a minister, and I am under a lot of pressure but resignation is not the solution," Hebbar added.