Visits house of an accused in an attempt to murder case
Thiruvananthapuram : Even before the row over his refusal to salute a minister can die down, senior Kerala IPS officer Rishiraj Singh has courted another controversy by visiting the house of an accused in a murder attempt case.
An officer of the rank of additional director general of police (ADGP), Singh visited the house of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Bijeesh, who is facing the case in connection with the attempt to murder two Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers in Thrissur district in 2010.
Singh was invited by Bijeesh after a programme held at Kandanassery to mark the Kargil Victory Day on Sunday. Bijeesh was one of the organisers of the programme, which was held under the banner of an organisation of ex-servicemen called ‘’Deshasnehi’’.
The senior officer said that he had visited the house to participate in the dinner organised in connection with the programme and he was not aware that the host was an accused in a criminal case. Other dignitaries who participated in the programme had also joined the dinner.
However, the CPI (M), which leads the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state, has accused Singh, whom the party had regarded as an upright officer who does not yields to any pressure, of trying to curry favours with the BJP-led regime in New Delhi. Party Thrissur district secretary A C Moideen alleged that the IPS officer was looking for new patrons after he was embroiled in the controversy over the alleged disrespect he had shown to State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala by refusing to salute him at a public function.
The state government has already issued a show cause notice to him. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has termed the officer’s conduct against the protocol and indicated appropriate action against him.
