The Madhya Pradesh government suspended senior IPS official Purushottam Sharma on Tuesday, whose video of beating his wife went viral on social media on Sunday, after which he was transferred from the post of director of the Public Ministry in Madhya Pradesh on Monday. , according to a government order.
The suspension order came from the Department of the Interior after the 1986 IPS officer, who held the rank of special director general in the police department, submitted his response to a justification notice that was delivered to him on Monday night. by the Home Department.
The Interior Department’s suspension order stated: “Purushottam Sharma (1986), the then Director of the Public Prosecution Directorate, is suspended with immediate prima facie effect as his conduct violates the All India Rules (of Conduct) Services, 1968 and its response to a show’s cause notice issued regarding viral videos on social media on September 27, which was found to be unsatisfactory and inappropriate. During the period of suspension, his headquarters will be the police headquarters, Bhopal.
However, Sharma called the suspension order unfortunate and one-sided.
He said: “The state government made the decision (to suspend me) without looking at my response. I submitted the response at 5.30pm today to the additional chief secretary, Home Rajesh Rajora and in just one hour the decision was made to suspend me. In fact, my case is not a case of victimization of women but of men. I’m going to fight “.
The notice of cause of the show delivered to the police officer by the Home department on Monday read: “Two video clips went viral on social media on September 27 and 28 in which prima facie there appears to be unethical conduct and domestic violence. with his wife for his part. Therefore, your act makes you liable for disciplinary action under rule 10 of the All India Service Rules (Discipline and Appeal) 1969. Therefore please provide your clarification. Why will no disciplinary action be taken against him for misconduct reflected in viral videos. ”
The department asked the police officer to present his clarification within the stipulated time to avoid facing unilateral action.
In a video clip of less than five minutes, Sharma is allegedly seen pushing, hitting and immobilizing his wife. In another video, he is seen at a woman’s house and is soon followed by his wife, leading to a heated exchange of words between the couple and Sharma leaving the house in anger.
The woman in the second video, who is a television news anchor, filed a complaint with the Shahpura police station in Bhopal on Monday night against the police officer’s wife and son for allegedly defaming her by filming the video, making it viral on social media and leveling unfounded accusations. The woman said that Sharma was like her father and that he visited her just for a cup of tea.
On Tuesday, a police team from the Mahila Police Station in Bhopal visited the police officer’s wife, but the police officer refused to file an FIR in relation to the alleged domestic violence, said a police officer who did not want to be identified. .
Meanwhile, a letter appeared on social media allegedly written by the police officer’s daughter who supported her father and blamed her mother for causing her problems.
Despite best efforts, Sharma’s wife and son could not be reached for comment. They did not respond to phone calls or text messages.
Earlier on Monday, the police officer’s son wrote to Interior Minister Narottam Mishra, Prime Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Director General of Police Vivek Johri demanding that action be taken against his father based on the videos, according to officials of the government.
Interior Minister Narottam Mishra said: “I have not received a letter yet. I’ll look into it once I have it. ”
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