Sasikala bribegate: State planning compulsory leave for accused DG?

Two days after the controversial allegations that HN Sathyanaraya Rao, Prison Director General, gave special favours to jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala in exchange for money, reportedly the government is planning to send him on compulsory leave.

According to sources, the Congress government, which has already faced one huge controversy thanks to the steel bridge fiasco, does not want to risk another embarrassment - especially when it has to face elections in six months.

The latest controversy has Rao's reputation as an honest officer and the former Additional Director General Of Police, Lokayukta at stake.

"The government is contemplating sending the police officer on compulsory leave, and he will end his service by the end of this month. If the officer reaches his retirement age, he may skip any departmental inquiry, and his post-retirement benefits will not be affected much. But in case a person is suspended and then retires during the suspension period, he or she is likely to face investigation, and his post retirement benefits will be on hold,"  said a source.

Meanwhile few sections of the media approached Sathyanarayana Rao for his reaction on the development. But he apparently denied any responses.

Following the allegations, Maithreyan, Rajya Sabha MP from former TN CM O Panneerselvam's camp in the AIADMK, lashed out at Sasikala for her alleged  influencing of prison officials of Karnataka and demanded a probe. He also had asked for the immediate suspension of the alleged officer in the case.

D Raja, CPI National Secretary, CPI, expressed shock over the lapses in the Prisons department in Karnataka and termed this development as a bad example of the prison system.

"The Department of prison needs immediate reforms," he said. 

Karnataka BJP spokesperson S Prakash lashed at the Karnataka government, accusing it of being fully aware of the flouting of prison norms and defying court orders.

"DIG Roopa has claimed that there was illegality in jail and there is video evidence. The government has ordered a probe and named a former IAS office to look into the issue and give a report. But we demand a judicial inquiry as there is the chance of tweaking the report and sabotaging the investigation,"  he said.

DIG Roopa, in her report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Chief Secretary, had mentioned that urine samples of a few convicts had established the presence of drugs, thereby leading to suspicions about how the drugs were being smuggled into the jail. 

The other allegation was the giving of VIP treatment to stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi. Abdul Karim Telgi's room is said to have a comfortble bed, a TV set and also other convicts to help him. 

The prisoners are seen giving massages to Telgi, which is a major violation of prison norms. 

In the report, Roopa had also mentioned that there were rumours of a Rs 2 crore bribe to HS Sathyanaraya Rao for giving special treatment Sasikala - including a special kitchen.

• DIG Roopa
• DG Rao
• Sasikala