Anantapur: Shortly after the recent dismissal from service of Armed Reserve Constable Bhanu Prakash at the state police headquarters, a police complaint was lodged by the former against Anantpur SP Fakkeerappa, ASP Hanumanthappa, and CCS DSP Mahbub Bhasha at Two Town Police Station in the district on Thursday, leading to a subsequent case being registered against the trio.
This comes days after Prakash's allegation that he was removed from duty after he held up a placard during Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's visit to the district. 'AP CM Jagan Sir, Save AP Police', the placard is learnt to have read, with Prakash demanding all pending arrears of ASIs, SIs and Constables in the state to be cleared.
Denying the allegation, however, SP Fakkeerappa said, "It is wrong for some parties to allege that Prakash was removed from service for protesting with placards during the CM's visit. Constable Prakash was dismissed based on Lakshmi's complaint in 2019 that he misbehaved with her and there were no other reasons. Five criminal cases have already been registered against Bhanu Prakash."
"There were cases of misbehavior with a woman and harassment of a female home guard. There are eight punishments along with postponement of increments, and charge memos. The incident took place in 2018, and the victim filed a complaint with SP in July 2019. Based on that, we conducted an investigation with the DSP for three years," he further added.
Meanwhile, TDP Supremo and Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, N Chandrababu Naidu, in a recent tweet slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government over the issue.
"Now who should be suspended....the DGP? Now who should be dismissed...the YSRCP government? Will you make a victim, who complained asking for justice, a part of your sin? The AR constable who you dismissed illegally is not the accused, the victim herself said" Naidu tweeted out on August 30, adding a newspaper clipping alongside.
Reacting to the development, however, the SP said it was improper for the victim to 'change her statement'. "We have sent three notices within 45 days. It is wrong for the victim to now say that she has changed her statement, and the copies of her complaint shown to the media have nothing to do with these actions. If Prakash feels that he has been wronged, he can appeal and go to court within 30 days. Strict action will be taken if they do not stop blaming the police department," Fakkeerappa further stated.
