The officer is also seen displaying wounds to his hand even as he continues to yell at his wife.
Bhopal:
Purushottam Sharma, a Madhya Pradesh police officer, who was caught on video assaulting his wife, has been suspended. Sharma, an officer in the rank of Director General, had justified his actions, calling it a “family dispute” and insisting that it was “not a crime”.
Sharma, who has been married for 32 years, had said: “This is a family matter, not a crime … I am not a criminal. My wife stalks me wherever I go. I am dealing with this.”
Previously, he had only been transferred from his previous position to the Secretary of State without having been assigned to any position. That order was issued Monday by the undersecretary of the state Department of the Interior, who simultaneously also issued a notice of cause for demonstration.
“Two videos related to you went viral on social media in which, prima facie, you are seen engaging in immoral behavior and domestic violence with your wife,” the ad read.
“His actions violate the rules of All India Services and therefore he is instructed to clarify why no disciplinary action should be taken against him for his actions,” he added.
Sharma had been asked to submit a response before 5.30pm, otherwise, the government said, no response would be interpreted and appropriate action would be taken.
The Madhya Pradesh Women’s Commission summoned Sharma on October 5 and also ordered the police to provide security for his wife.
In the widely shared video, Sharma, a 1986 IPS officer, is seen arguing with his wife. In seconds, he is holding her, pinning her to the ground, and hitting her.
Two other men can be seen in the room, one of them approaching the couple. The officer is also seen displaying wounds to his hand even as he continues to yell at his wife.
NDTV cannot confirm the authenticity of the video.
“If my nature is abusive, then I should have complained earlier. This is a family dispute, not a crime. I am not a violent person or a criminal. It is a shame that I have to go through this,” Sharma said. said by the ANI news agency.
He also said that his wife had complained against him in 2008. “But the fact is, since 2008, he has been living in my house, enjoying all the facilities and traveling abroad at my own expense,” he said.
The wife was allegedly assaulted after she confronted Mr. Sharma with his friend at their home.
Today that friend, a news anchor for a regional television channel in Bhopal, filed a police complaint against Sharma’s wife and son, accusing them of smearing his reputation.
She demanded that the police protect her from “mental torture”.
Reacting to the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: “If someone in a position of responsibility is found to be engaging in illegal activities and take the laws into their hands, action will be taken against them, regardless of who they are.
With contributions from ANI, PTI
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