Three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, who were suspended by the Chandrababu Naidu government in connection with the alleged harassment and wrongful confinement of Mumbai-based actor Kadambari Jethwani, are reportedly planning to seek legal recourse.
According to sources, the three IPS officers – former intelligence chief P S R Anjaneyulu, former Vijayawada police commissioner Kanti Rana Tata, and former Vijayawada deputy commissioner Vishal Gunni – are considering challenging their suspension in the Central Administrative Tribunal.
"The three senior officers will argue that they cannot be suspended based on a frivolous complaint by the actress. Without conducting a proper investigation and establishing their involvement, they cannot be accused of any wrongdoing," a source stated.
The IPS officers were suspended under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, following Jethwani’s complaint to the NTR District Police Commissioner in the first week of August.
She alleged that the three officers acted hastily after YSRCP leader and film producer K V Vidyasagar Rao accused her of forgery and extortion.
The FIR, filed based on her complaint, also mentioned Assistant Commissioner Hanumanthu Rao and Ibrahimpatnam Circle Inspector C Satyanarayana, both of whom are already suspended.
According to the investigation report, IPS officers Kanti Rana Tata and Vishal Gunni arrested the actor, allegedly under the direction of former intelligence DG Anjaneyulu, even before producer Vidyasagar Rao had lodged a formal police complaint.
Acting on oral instructions, the officers traveled to Mumbai and arrested her on February 2 without any written orders or sufficient evidence, according to the probe report.