Punished for honesty: In Siddaramaiah's Karnataka, upright women officers a constant target

The sudden transfer of IPS officer D Roopa, who as DIG (prisons) had taken on her senior while exposing alleged irregularities in the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, is yet another case of honest and upright officers (mostly women officers) being targeted in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

Before Roopa, Kudligi DySP Anupama Shenoy, IAS officers Ashwini Mahesh and C Shikha too had taken on the mighty and influential. But all they received from the government was frequent transfers. Here is a quick note on these women officers who seem to be targeted for being upright. 

IPS officer D Roopa

If not for this tough woman officer, the state government perhaps would not have bothered about the alleged murky dealings behind the long walls of Parappana Agrahara prisons. D Roopa, who recently took over as the DIG (prisons), had levelled serious allegations of special privileges being extended to some inmates including AIADMK leader Sasikala and stamp paper kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi.

She had submitted a report against DGP Satyanarayana Rao accusing him of receiving a bribe to himself. She had also complained about rampant drug abuse and other irregularities in the prisons. Her report shook the government  - forcing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order an inquiry into her allegations. While a retired officer, Vinay Kumar, is yet to begin investigations into her allegations, Roopa has been shunted out by the government, now. She has been transferred as commissioner for road safety and traffic, Bengaluru City.

Former DySP Anupama Shenoy

The former dynamic police officer Anupama Shenoy will be long remembered for taking on labour minister PT Parmeshwar Naik as Kudligi DySP. The Siddaramaiah government unceremoniously shunted out Shenoy for reportedly placing a phone call on hold from minister Naik in 2016.

When she reverted the call to minister, Naik reportedly shot back "You know, who is important to you? I will show who I am, what is my power." Although the government cancelled her transfer after public outcry, she resigned soon complaining interference by minister Naik in her work.

Through Facebook, Shenoy had threatened to expose minister Naik. But in the absence of government's support, Anupama was forced to resign.

IAS officer C Shikha

Then Mysuru deputy commissioner, Shikha was shunted out midway when the district was gearing itself for Nada Habba 'Dasara' in 2016. Shikha grabbed headlines after she filed a FIR against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's close associate, K Marigowda, former Mysuru ZP president. Marigowda had intimidated, used abusive language against Shikha and questioned her about certain administrative decisions on land encroachment.

As he surrendered himself to the police after absconding for a month, the government transferred Shikha to save its face from further embarrassment. She is now the commissioner of Labour department.

IAS officer Rashmi Mahesh

This officer has been transferred - perhaps - than any other woman officers during Siddaramaiah government. She has been transferred for more than 20 times in her 19 years of service! Support poured in for Rashmi Mahesh after she was attacked with slippers by irate contract staff after she exposed Rs 100-crore scam at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Mysuru in 2014.

As director general of ATI Rashmi had blown the whistle as the government chose to ignore her inquiry report on the scam. In her report, she had levelled charges of corruption against another IAS officer Amitha Prasad who had allegedly created unnecessary sanctions at the ATI causing Rs 100 crore loss to the state treasury. At ATI, gazetted probationers of the Karnataka Civil Services undergo training.  

• IPS officer D roopa
• Rashmi Mahesh
• C Shikha
• Anupama Shenoy
• Karnataka