Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru
Mysuru, May 6: The police department on Tuesday suspended H N Madhu Kumar, a 45-year-old jail warden at Mysuru Central Prison, for posting an inflammatory video that harshly criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
In the video, the ex-army man accused the chief minister of raising his hand at a senior police officer during a Congress convention in Belagavi on April 28.
Superintendent of Mysuru Central Prison B S Ramesh, following an internal inquiry, issued the suspension order under the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021. A preliminary investigation by the police has traced the objectionable video’s creation to April 28.
In his video, Madhu Kumar condemned the alleged physical gesture by the chief minister towards additional superintendent of police Narayan Bharamani, asserting that such behaviour was unacceptable from a leader, especially from someone with a legal background. He further denounced the practice of expecting police officers, who he claimed served the state for 35 years, to be subservient to elected politicians with a five-year term.
Using strong language, Madhu Kumar lambasted Siddaramaiah, accusing him of losing respect among his subordinates and failing to exercise proper restraint. The video also contained personal digs, including remarks about the untimely demise of Siddaramaiah’s elder son, Rakesh Siddaramaiah, and criticisms related to the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam, in which the chief minister is implicated.
Beyond the criticism of the chief minister’s conduct, Madhu Kumar raised issues about delayed police salary credits and the deteriorating law and order situation in Mysuru, referencing a recent attack on a police station.
Following the release of the video, Congress party workers from the Mysuru unit staged a protest outside Mysuru Central Prison, demanding that the deputy commissioner of police (law and order) register an FIR against Madhu Kumar. Meanwhile, the police department has launched a detailed investigation into the matter.
Madhu Kumar, whose position is equivalent to that of a police constable, has now been sidelined pending further inquiry into his conduct.