We have not accepted bribe for police postings: Home Minister

K.J. George rebuts charge that Home Department is corrupt

July 22, 2014 02:48 am | Updated 02:48 am IST - BANGALORE:

Minister for Home K.J. George fending off an attack by the Opposition on the deteriorating law and order situation in the State, in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Minister for Home K.J. George fending off an attack by the Opposition on the deteriorating law and order situation in the State, in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Home Minister K.J. George on Monday rebutted the charge of receiving bribes for transfers and postings of police. Replying to the debate on the increasing number of rape and sexual assault cases in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Mr. George said there was no substance to the Oppositions’ charge on rampant corruption in the Home Department. He said: “Neither the Chief Minister nor Ireceived money for transferring police officers.”

Mr. George said all transfers and postings have been done in a transparent manner and appealed to the public not to pay ‘mamul’ to policemen.

Goonda Act

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Goonda Act would be strengthened by introducing suitable amendments to the Act. Now, those involved in multiple sexual assault cases were being booked under the Act

Mr. George admitted that the number of cases of rape and sexual assault had increased. It had gone up from 621 in 2012 to 1,030 in 2013 in the State. With regard to the rape of a postgraduate student in Pulakeshinagar police station limits in Bangalore, he said four persons had been arrested and one more was still at large.

He said more ‘Jana Snehi’(people-friendly) police stations would be established and Spandana (helpline for children, the aged and women) units would be strengthened in Bangalore.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar alleged that political interference in the functioning of police had led to ineffective implementation of laws. The police succumb to pressure from higher authorities and have lost the zeal to work. He demanded Mr. George’s resignation. Janata Dal (Secular) Floor leader H.D. Kumaraswamy said police are acting as per the instructions of Congress MLAs. Most of the policemen in the city indulge in real estate business and spend little time on handling sexual assault cases, he alleged.

Ruckus in Council

Bharatiya Janata Party members walked out of the Legislative Council on Monday demanding an apology from Congress member V.S. Ugrappa, who accused Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy of taking sides during a debate on the increasing number of rape cases in the State. The Opposition continued its tirade against the government. Between calls of Mr. George’s resignation, Mr. Ugrappa asked the Chairman not to take sides. This created a furore with both the Chairman and BJP members expressing their displeasure. “Do not cast aspersions on the Chair,” Mr. Shankaramurthy told Mr. Ugrappa.

Demanding an apology, the BJP members staged a walkout. JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti also expressed displeasure over the remark.

The situation eased only after the intervention of Leader of the House S.R. Patil, who apologised on behalf of the member.

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