Controversial IPS Officer Basant Rath Suspended For ‘Gross Misconduct And Misbehaviour’

The Union Home Ministry has issued an order suspending the controversial Jammu and Kashmir  IPS officer Basant Rath from service for alleged instances of ‘gross misconduct and misbehaviour’.

"J&K IPS Officer Basant Rath has been suspended with immediate effect, in connection with repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour, which have been brought to the notice of the Government," the ministry said in the statement.

A 2000 batch IPS officer, Rath had recently filed a complaint against his own boss, Director General Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh. In his complaint, Rath asked the local police state to take cognizance of “threats to his life and liberty”that he allegedly faced from the state DGP

In the letter addressed to the Gandhinagar police station SHO, Rath said: "I am writing to you to take note of my genuine apprehensions about my safety and reputation. I am doing it as a private citizen of the country. In my personal capacity. Not as a civil servant. Not as a policeman."

"I'm not asking you to lodge an FIR against the person mentioned above. I am just asking you to make this letter a part of the daily dairy in your police station...in case something bad happens to me, you should know whose number you should dial. With due respect," Rath added

“Hi Dilbag Singh. Can I call you Dilloo? Are you the one who owns 50 canals of land in Sarore near the dental college? Is it registered on your name?” Rath had tweeted.

Although the tweeple that Rath addressed was not the handle of Jammu and Kashmir police chief, the comments were seen as directed at the top cop.

DGP Dilbag Singh’s predecessor S.P. Vaid too had warned Rath of “action under law” in 2018 for using unorthodox ways to discipline traffic as the traffic police chief of Jammu and Kashmir.

Rath, an alumnus of JNU, is social media savvy, was often seen in all black instead of donning the police uniform while on duty.

In one of his posts on social media, Rath drew a comparison between condoms and helmets for their use as “protection”.