State DGP Post Politics Come to Fore

With several IPS officers vying for the top-cop post in the state, the appointment of state DGP has been a matter of interest always. But this time something unique, that never happened befor has come to the fore on Saturday with the arrest of a journalist turned corporate wheeler-dealer on charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery.

The accused, T Sunil Reddy, has reportedly confessed that he did all this at the behest of a top police officer to prevent present director general of police V Dinesh Reddy from ascending to the top post. This police officer was also in the race for the top post and wanted to stymie the chances of Dinesh who became DGP just two months ago.

According to the police, Sunil Reddy forged the signature of Rajya Sabha MP M A Khan on a letter written to the Union home secretary on April 22, 2011 on Khan's letterhead, making allegations against Dinesh Reddy at a time when the state government was considering the selection of a new DGP. The letter alleged that Dinesh Reddy's wife had purchased huge tracts of land either by self or through benamis, and requested the home ministry to conduct a thorough probe into the whole issue.

A shocked MP M A Khan, who didn't know anything about the fraud, wrote to the joint secretary in the Union home ministry stating that he had not written any such letter and that his signature has been forged. Based on the letter from the MP, the state CID swung into action and probed the matter. After investigations, they zeroed in on Sunil Reddy as the person who forged Khan's signature and arrested him early on Saturday.

In his confessional statement, Sunil Reddy reportedly said he indulged in the said irregularities at the “behest and collusion with a very senior officer” who was also in the race for the DGP post. It is not clear how Sunil Reddy got possession of Khan’s letterhead and whether the two know each other. However, it is commonly known that Sunil Reddy was close to a powerful political figure and that even Khan is said to be the protege of this politician.