Bangalore:
The Karnataka High Court has rejected the petitions filed by the former Director General of Police SM Bidari and the state government seeking his reinstatement as Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Director General of Police (DGP).
A division bench, comprising of Justice N Kumar and Justice HS Kempanna, dismissed the petitions after reviewing the findings of the Justice Sadashiva Panel, which probed alleged atrocities committed by the Special Task Force (STF) headed by Mr Bidari to nab forest brigand Veerappan and concluding there was enough proof of the charges against him in the report, including rape and torture.
The bench noted that there is a specific reference to the name of Mr Bidari in the Sadashiva panel report which is in nature of adverse comment with respect to his functioning as a Commandant of the Task Force.
The order further said that the findings recorded by the panel would show that STF commanded by Mr Bidari committed rape, torture, disrobing of women, giving electrical current and other such acts.
"As the said panel report/NHRC orders are withheld from the UPSC/not placed before the UPSC, the empanelment of the third respondent by the UPSC is vitiated and consequently the order appointing the third respondent as the DG and IGP of Karnataka is also vitiated", the bench said.
Reacting to the verdict, the present DGP AR Infant told PTI "it is a very good judgement. Justice has been done".
To a query on his continuation in the post as he was appointed as the adhoc DGP after Mr Bidari's appointment was quashed by the High Court on March 30, Mr Infant said "its upto the government to decide"