Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Kothakota Srinivas Reddy today took a significant decision by relocating the entire staff, ranging from constables to sub-inspectors, of the Punjagutta police station to the City Armed Reserve headquarters.
This decision comes at a time when the police station is under scrutiny for allegations of graft, favoritism, professional negligence and corruption.
It appears that the Commissioner was displeased at the leakage of crucial information, including in the infamous case in December involving rash and drunk driving. In that case, Rahil Shakil, son of former Bodhan MLA Aamir Shakil, managed to escape to Dubai by allegedly falsely implicating his driver as the accused.
In connection to that incident, the then CI/SHO P Durga Rao was suspended for allegedly assisting Rahil Shakil in his escape.
The investigation revealed that Bodhan Inspector Prem Kumar had also played a role in helping Shakil flee from Hyderabad to Dubai. Subsequently, Kumar was arrested along with others.
In another recent incident, a man arrested for reckless driving that resulted in injuries to several individuals at Punjagutta managed to escape from police custody at Gandhi Hospital.
There are also allegations that the staff of the station are providing information to former government officials and BRS leaders.
Against this backdrop, new personnel have been appointed to the Punjagutta police station from various other police stations in the city.
This is the first instance of 85 personnel being transferred from a single police station, with 82 new postings already assigned.