Suspended IGP Basant Rath puts in papers

Srinagar, June 26

Suspended IPS officer Basant Rath on Sunday announced his resignation on social media, hinting that he was joining politics to contest elections from Kashmir.

Through his famous twitter handle ‘KangriCarrier’, which is unverified, as well as WhatsApp status and Instagram post, Rath, who will be completing two years of his suspension next month, said, “Politics is a noble profession.” Sharing a copy of his resignation letter addressed to J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta and marked to DGP Dilbag Singh and HK Lohia, Commandant General, Home Guard, Rath said, “I wish to resign from the Indian Police Service in order to be able to participate in electoral politics. Please consider this letter as my request for resignation/voluntary retirement and process it accordingly.” In an earlier post about seven hours ago, Rath wrote, “If I ever join a political party, it will be BJP. If I ever contest an election, it will be from Kashmir. If I ever join politics, it will be before March 6, 2024.”

Repeated attempts to reach the officer did not fructify as he did not respond to phone calls and messages. In July 2000, Rath was suspended with immediate effect by the Centre in connection with “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour”. The action against the officer came a fortnight after he lodged a complaint with the police against DGP Dilbag Singh, citing “apprehensions about his life, liberty and bald head.”

Promoted as IGP in 2018, Rath became popular among people for his effective regulation of traffic. However, his stint as IGP (Traffic) was short-lived as many questioned his style of functioning. — PTI

Hints at political stint

Politics is a noble profession, Basant Rath wrote on social media. He was suspended two years ago after he filed a complaint against the DGP.