Probe against top cop for misbehaving with Maneka

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry into a complaint filed by Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi against the Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) for misbehaviour in July.

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry into a complaint filed by Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi against the Ghaziabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) for misbehaviour in July.

The matter revolved around activists of the NGO People for Animal (PFA) freeing a langur tied in the premises of a school in Ghaziabad on July 12. “We had freed the langur with help from forest department officials and when we brought it to police station, the SHO refused to register a complaint. He whisked away the langur.

Later we called up the minister (Maneka Gandhi) and made him speak to her. During the conversation, the SSP called the SHO and spoke to him. The SHO then declined to entertain the call,” PFA activist Ruchin Mehra said.

“We have now moved court and are trying to lodge an FIR on the directions of the court,” Mehra said.

After the incident, Union minister Maneka Gandhi shot a letter to a top UP government official on July 14. In
her letter, she alleged that while she was speaking to the SHO about the laws regarding wildlife, the SSP called up the SHO.

“While he was on the phone with me, the SSP rang up and talked to him on the other phone. I heard the SSP clearly saying that no FIRs were to be registered against the school or the langurwala and that the langurwala was to be sent away,” Gandhi’s letter stated.

Gandhi forwarded her complaint to Ghaziabad MP and minister for development of northeastern region General VK Singh (retired), who attached the complaint and forwarded it to the office of the UP chief minister on July 15.

Taking cognisance of the complaints by the two ministers, top UP administration officials ordered initiation of inquiry on July 24. Through different levels, the orders were finally sent to K Satyanarayan - deputy inspector general (DIG-Meerut Zone) — for recording of statements and conduct of an inquiry into the issue.

“So far we have recorded the statements of Kavi Nagar SHO and two of the PFA activists. The inquiry is still on,” K Satyanarayan told HT.