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New Delhi: A senior Karnataka police official has sought voluntary retirement (VRS) after allegedly being humiliated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a public event. The Chief Minister allegedly raised his hand that looked like a slap gesture at Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Narayan Bharaman during a Congress rally in Belagavi in April. Bharman, who has served in police department for 31 years, felt humiliated by the Chief Minister's gesture.
Bharamani, who has four years of service before attaining superannuation, wrote a letter to the Home Secretary last month seeking voluntary retirement (VRS). He has cited public humiliation by Karnataka Chief Minister as the primary reason for his decision. The resignation, however, has not been accepted by the state government.
In his letter, Bharamani said that he was performing his assigned duty of stage security when a few protestors displayed black flags during CM's speech. The Chief Minister, allegedly enraged by the disruption, summoned him to the stage and shouted, "Hey! Who is this SP here? Get out!” in front of thousands, including political leaders, media personnel, and uniformed officers.
Bharamani claimed that Siddaramaiah raised his hand as if to slap him, which left him publicly humiliated. The incident was widely broadcasted across news channels, he said.
The police officer described the aftermath as emotionally devastating for his family, with his wife and children breaking down upon seeing him return home in distress. "At home, there was a funeral-like silence. On seeing me, my wife and children broke down in uncontrollable grief. The entire day passed in silence. We were too distressed to even answer the calls from concerned well-wishers. My family and I were deeply traumatised," he wrote, adding that the silence from senior officials and the lack of support from colleagues intensified his emotional trauma.
BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya shared the cop's resignation letter and asked the Chief Minister to apologise to him. "This incident stands as a stark reminder of what happens when sincere, honest, and committed officers are insulted in public instead of being appreciated for their service. We demand that Siddaramaiah set aside his ego, issue a public apology to Narayana Baramani, and urge the officer to reconsider his decision," Malviya wrote on X, sharing a picture of the cop's resignation letter.
Following the incident, the Chief Minister tried to reach out to Bharamani to pacify him. Senior police officials also urged him to reconsider his decision. Siddaramaiah also met the cop in person. The state government is yet to formally respond to his voluntary resignation.
