Bengaluru: Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasabha President and social activist V. Shashidhar has filed a complaint yesterday with the Lokayukta seeking a probe into the alleged interference of elected representatives including Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, 27 Ministers, MLAs/MLCs and MPs in the transfer of Police officers.

He alleged that the CM, his Cabinet members were gaining directly or indirectly by transferring Police officials to particular Police Stations/ Circles/ Sub-Divisions. The transfers are illegal, contrary to the Karnataka Police Act and also against the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, he said.

Shashidhar alleged that the CM’s and his Minister’s ‘transfer minutes’ overrode Police Establishment Board (PEB) – which was exclusively set up to transfer Police officers.

“This is giving way to an unholy Police-Politician nexus, which could either be to accrue benefits or lead to forging of an unholy relationship – both of which are equally dangerous to the society,” Shashidhar said.  The complaint comes after the High Court in January disposed off his writ petition, keeping open the option to move the Lokayukta.

Shashidhar has submitted 167 minutes/ recommendation letters issued by the Chief Minister and his 27 Cabinet colleagues between 2014 and 2016. These minutes also name certain Police officials.

In his complaint to Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B. Adi, he has sought that the Director General & Inspector General of Police be made witness in the case.

Shashidhar has been pursuing the issue of political interference in Police transfers by making the PEB a defunct entity.

“I was able to obtain letters of recommendations given by politicians seeking transfer of Police officers to their respective places and the Chief Minister obliged the requests. Such Police officers who are under the mercy of politicians do not carry out proper investigation and protect their political bosses,” he alleged.

He had earlier filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on May 18, 2016, on these illegal transfers carried as per the whims and fancies of the politicians. However, the ACB closed this on November 21, 2016 stating lack of prima facie evidence and that the Police transfers were administrative issues. Shashidhar had then moved the High Court, which had disposed off the petition on February 1, 2017.

With the High Court keeping an option open for him to move the Lokayukta, Shashidhar did that yesterday. A complaint has now been registered by the Lokayukta.