The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers following allegations of wrongful arrest of Mumbai-based actor and model Kadambari Jethwani.
The suspended IPS officers — former intelligence chief PSR Anjaneyulu, former Vijayawada Police Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata and former Vijayawada Deputy Commissioner Vishal Gunni — proceeded with the arrest of Jethwani in Mumbai on February 2, allegedly without written orders or sufficient evidence.
The suspended officers arrested the actor soon after an FIR was registered, raising concerns of procedural irregularities.
Their actions displayed disregard for standard investigative protocols, according to their suspension orders, which were issued based on a report by the Director General of Police (DGP), and signed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
On January 31, Anjaneyulu instructed Tata and Gunni to proceed with the arrest of the actor, even before a formal case had been registered.
The suspended officers have been placed in their headquarters in Vijayawada.
Earlier, Additional Superintendent of Police (ACP) Hanumantharao and Ibrahimpatnam Circle Inspector (CI) Satyanarayana were also suspended in the case.
WHAT IS THE CASE ALL ABOUT?
In August, Jethwani filed a complaint with the NTR District Police Commissioner, alleging that she and her family were illegally arrested by the police. The complaint stated that the arrest was orchestrated by YSR Congress Party leader and film producer KVR Vidyasagar, who had accused Jethwani and her family of forgery and extortion.
Jethwani and her parents were ‘arrested’ in Mumbai and brought to Vijayawada. They were kept in judicial custody for over 40 days before being granted bail. Jethwani alleged that she and her family were subjected to mental torture and humiliation by the police during questioning.
Jethwani’s advocate, N Srinivas, alleged that Vidyasagar had fabricated land documents to frame Jethwani and her family, and that the police did not allow them to file a bail plea for several days.
