Rohini Sindhuri, D. Roopa openly hurl accusations against each other
It does not happen too often. Two senior bureaucrats—one IAS and another IPS–caused a flutter in Karnataka as they engaged in acrimonious exchanges in social media on Sunday. An IPS officer took to social media to accuse an IAS officer of several wrongdoings. She also released the IAS officer’s personal pictures allegedly shared with a few male officers.
This has obviously antagonised the government who has already asked the officer to behave themselves. Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Monday expressed displeasure against their conduct, and warned action, citing service rule violation.
It all started with two social media posts fired by Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Managing Director D. Roopa, an IPS officer. She personally attacked Rohini Sindhuri, Muzrai Department Commissioner, and accused the officer of corruption. Sindhuri is an IAS officer.
Sindhuri counter it openly in the social media terming the allegations as “baseless”. She said, “The allegations were made on personal hatred.” She added that Roopa, who holds a responsible position, was behaving as if she had lost her mental balance.
Sindhuri has said that she will take legal and other actions with appropriate authorities for Roopa’s actions amounting to misconduct and criminal offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Both accused the other of violating the Civil Services Conduct rules, and that they had brought the respective violations to the notice of the appropriate authorities.
Notably, the two officials have history of being landed in controversies in their official capacities over the last few years.
Amid this, the minister Araga Jnanendra said, “We are not sitting quiet, action will be taken against them. They both are behaving in such a bad way that not even normal people speak on the streets. Let them do whatever on their personal issues, but coming before the media and behaving in a way they are doing is not right.”
Speaking to reporters here, he said, people see IAS and IPS officers with high respect, but looking at their behaviour and conduct, they are causing disrespect and humiliation to civil services officers.
“We have good officials of high ranking, they are the ones who run the state and the country, but a few such people are bringing a bad name to the whole of the official class, they have to be punished. I have spoken to DG (Director General of Police) and will be speaking to the CS (Chief Secretary); the Chief Minister is also aware of it,” he added.
«They have taken names of certain Ministers and the government, the Chief Minister is aware of all this, and he will take a strict decision», the minister added.
