The state Home department’s delay in taking action against IPS officer Abhishekh Goyal in accordance with the recommendations of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (NPA), Hyderabad, may come as a setback for a host of Karnataka cadre IPS officers anticipating promotion.
The NPA, on December 15, 2015, had recommended action against Goyal for his ‘misconduct, gross indiscipline and insubordination’ during his mid-career training (MCT) in November 2015.
The NPA had suggested DG&IGP Om Prakash to hold a departmental inquiry and recover Rs 62,393 from Goyal within 30 days of the receipt of the letter and refund the money to the NPA. The NPA had stated in the letter that it would be difficult to accept further nominations for the MCT from Karnataka if the recommendations are not implemented within the deadline.
“The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) sought an action taken report from the DG&IGP two weeks ago, but there is no response yet,” said a DPAR official.
“We will inform the government once we receive the state police chief’s response for further action. A decision would be taken at the government level,” the official said. Goyal is currently Deputy Commissioner of Police, (CAR Headquarters), Bengaluru.
The state government nominates IPS officers, who have been in service for nine years and are yet to complete 14 years, for the MCT. The MCT is mandatory for promotion. NPA may write to the Union Home ministry recommending not to consider any IPS officer from Karnataka for the MCT which would affect others expecting promotion, said a former DG&IGP. When contacted, Om Prakash was not available for comment.
Goyal landed himself in trouble between November 29 and December 4, during phase III of the MCT, which was held in Australia. On Day One, Goyal came to the venue in civil wear which was objected to by the Academy faculty S Raveendran.
Goyal had missed the first half of the session by the time he returned in uniform.
A show-cause notice was issued to him. On the second day, Goyal insisting on bringing his family on the bus from Gold Coast in spite of clear instructions that families would not be allowed to travel. On the third day, Goyal requested that he be exempted from the final leg of the programme in Melbourne. Despite refusal of exemption, Goyal did not attend the last leg of the programme at Melbourne, missed his flight and stayed back in Brisbane, the NPA letter states.
“Goyal did not mend his ways, vitiated the training atmosphere and brought disrepute to the NPA and the IPS fraternity, despite repeated warnings,” the letter adds.
The NPA did not issue the course completion certificate to Goyal and he became the first IPS officer to face a draft charge sheet by the NPA, said the sources.
PTI