CAT revokes trainee IPS officer's suspension

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday revoked the order of the Union Home Ministry, suspending the offer of appointment of trainee Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Kokkanti Maheshwar Reddy, booked for allegedly harassing his wife.

The CAT ordered that Reddy be allowed to undergo IPS training but made it clear that his appointment will be subject to final orders in the case.

The tribunal passed the interim orders on a petition by Reddy, challenging the Home Ministry's orders passed earlier this month.

The Home Ministry had suspended 28-year-old's offer of appointment pending an ongoing investigation into a criminal case pending against him.

The action had come days before new recruits were to begin training at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here.

Birudula Bhavana, 28, had lodged a complaint with Hyderabad police in October that Maheshwar Reddy is forcing her for a divorce so that he can marry another woman.

Bhavana claimed that they were in relationship since their college days and formally tied the knot on February 9, 2008 in the marriage registration office.

Hailing from Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, Maheshwar Reddy had secured 126th rank in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination this year and underwent foundation training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

The Dalit woman alleged that after clearing the UPSC exam, he started forcing her to divorce him so that he can marry another woman. She also claimed that Reddy threatened her with dire consequences.

Bhavana, who works in Indian Railways, lodged a complaint with Jawahar Nagar police, which booked the trainee IPS officer on charges of harassment and criminal intimidation. He was also booked under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
IANS