Suresh Khopade to face departmental inquiry in Pune

The state government has decided to initiate a departmental inquiry against retired special inspector general of police, Suresh Khopade, for his criticism of the state police system. The government has also withheld his death-cum-retirement gratuity, amounting to around Rs11 lakh, due to the inquiry.

According to a letter dated June 23 sent to the accountant general of the state government by KV Bilonikar, under-secretary in the home department, the accounts office was asked to send the requisite authorisation regarding Khopade's pension and his gratuity as the government is about to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Khopade alleged that a section of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) lobby in the state had pressurised home minister, RR Patil, to initiate the probe.

"Patil is a sensitive and sincere politician. But he succumbed to the pressure of the IAS and IPS lobbies and decided to initiate the inquiry against me," Khopade said.

On the role of the police in the Mumbai blasts, he said, "Sensing a terrorist attack on Mumbai, I wrote a letter on March 19 this year to Mumbai police commissioner, Arup Patnaik, not to stop community policing and instead start public-police dialogue to prevent any terrorist activity."

"The lower and the middle rank of the police force are sensitive and excellent in investigation, but the fire-fighting approach by the top brass and lack of intelligence are marring the efficiency of the entire police force," he alleged.

In view of the increasing enmity between two communities, community policing should be resumed to curb terrorist activities in the state.

"In community policing, which is also known as mohalla committee, if a committee member senses a wrong movement by the youths, s/he informs the police, which can keep a close watch on the suspects and avoid any untoward incident," Khopade said.

"When I raised doubts about the loopholes in the police system, a departmental inquiry was initiated against me after my retirement and my gratuity has been withheld," he said.