IPS officer out of Telangana academy after tiff with governor

Rajasthan additional director general of police Indu Kumar Bhushan, who was on a mid-career training programme at the National Police Academy in Hyderabad, was forcibly sent back to Jaipur on Monday evening by academy officials for allegedly misbehaving with Andhra Pradesh’s governor, E.S.L. Narasimhan.

As part of the course, the governor was delivering a lecture on administration on Monday morning. While explaining the impediments in administration, the governor spoke of how a few RTI activists had become like the mafia and were threatening the administration.

During the question-answer session, Mr Bhushan argued with Mr Narasimhan, stating that he lacked awareness about the RTI Act. When the governor’s ADC tried to persuade Mr Bhushan to desist, the latter started arguing with the ADC. This took place in front of about 40 IPS officials from across the country.

Taking serious a view of this behaviour, academy director Aruna Bahuguna lodged a complaint with Rajasthan DGP Manoj Bhat, stating that the academy was sending Mr Bhushan back.

When the academy issued the relieving orders at about 4 pm, Mr Bhushan created a ruckus and threatened that he would slit his throat if the orders were not withdrawn.

Finally, the academy authorities sent him back to Jaipur with the help of the Central Industrial Security Force personnel and local police at about 6 pm.

The argument with the governor during the Q&A session: Bhushan: How can you describe RTI activists as mafia They are just information seekers.

Governor: They seek such sort of information.

Bhushan: They are not wrong. Don’t you have awareness on the Act

Governor: I am speaking on the practical matter not on an artificial.

(At this point Mr Bhushan received a call on his cellphone, though mobiles were supposed to be switched off. He rejected the call and continued).

Bhushan: Why did you describe them as mafia

Governor: Because they seek any sort of information. I went for Balaji darshan several times. One RTI activist sought about this info.

Bhushan: You should provide proper information to the respective RTI activist.

Governor: People are misusing the Act. As the Act is good, utilisation also should be for good purpose.