Cop suspended for nod to Owaisi meet

BENGALURU: A sub-inspector of police attached to Commercial Street police station was suspended for permitting Hyderabad-based Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party leader and MP Asaduddin Owaisi to address a public function in Shivajinagar on February 8, coinciding with a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event. "It is surprising that the sub-inspector granted permission though he is not empowered to do so. Organizers should have approached the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for such a meeting. Perhaps, the sub-inspector didn't know the standing of Owaisi and the sensitivity involving his activities," DCP (east) N Satish Kumar said. Suspended SI Pradeep Pujari gave the nod which normally should have been granted by the supervisory officer like the jurisdictional DCP. It was also found that Pradeep did not inform his higher-ups about the Owaisi programme, Kumar said. The goof-up was brought to the notice of police commissioner MN Reddi, who ordered an enquiry and disciplinary action against the SI and asked the DCP to cancel permission. The local unit of MIM has been asked to select another date for the event. The inquiry revealed that Pujari was negligent in performing his duties and was suspended, the DCP said. MIM withdraws plea Meanwhile, the MIM on Thursday withdrew its plea challenging the decision of the city police revoking permission to hold a public meeting at Chhota Maidan in Shivajinagar on February 8. The petitioners filed a memo stating they would like to hold the meeting on February 20 or 21 and would file a proper application before the authorities in this regard. -TOI