Kerala Congress Wants Action Against Police Officer Who Failed to Salute Home Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress lawmakers have indicated that they are in favour of action against senior police officer Rishiraj Singh, who landed in a controversy after pictures of him not saluting the Home Minister at a recent function went viral on social media.

The pictures show the police officer seated, as Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala pass him from the side. Other officers behind Mr Singh, who is an Additional Director General of Police, are seen saluting the minister.

The minister has not insisted on any action, leaving the matter to the police chief. No formal complaint has been registered.

But a leader of Mr Chennithala's party, the Congress, today said, "There is a certain decorum, and it was not right of the police officer to have broken that."

At the Parliamentary Party meeting held today, most leaders spoke in favour of taking action against the officer, sources said.

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Last year, Mr Singh had been transferred from the post of Transport Commissioner after he made seat belts for rear passengers in 4-wheelers compulsory. Reports said the move was not appreciated by Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

He had also been moved out of the Kerala State Electricity Board, reportedly due to his stringent measures against electricity theft by corporates. But Director General of Police T Senkumar said, "He was brought back to the police force on his request, since the post at KSEB was for a junior officer".

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