3 senior IPS officers suspended by Andhra govt for ‘wrongful arrest’ of Mumbai-based actress Kadambari Jethwani

They were suspended under rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

Jethwani had lodged a complaint with the NTR District Police Commissioner in the first week of August, alleging that the three officers acted in haste after YSRCP leader and film producer K V Vidyasagar Rao made accusations of forgery and extortion against her.

In her complaint, Jethwani alleged that police arrested her and her father and brought them to Vijayawada, where they were kept confined for three days before being produced in court. The court subsequently granted them bail.

She alleged that both of them were subject to mental torture by the police officers.

The Andhra Pradesh Police chief ordered a probe after getting her complaint. The action against the three IPS officers is based on this probe, officials said.

The FIR filed on the basis of her complaint also mentioned Assistant Commissioner Hanumanthu Rao and Ibrahimpatnam Circle Inspector Ibrahimpatnam C Satyanarayana, both of whom are already under suspension.

According to the probe report, IPS officers Kranthi Rana Tata and Vishal Gunni proceeded to arrest the actor allegedly on the direction of former intelligence DG Anjaneyulu even before producer Vidyasagar Rao had lodged a formal police complaint.

Acting on oral instructions, the officers travelled to Mumbai and arrested her on February 2, without any written orders or sufficient evidence, the probe report said.