R. B. Sreekumar

R.B. Sreekumar is a former Gujarat State Director-General of Police. He is known for his stand on the 2002 Gujarat riots against the Government of Gujarat.[1][2][3][4]

R.B. Sreekumar
Born12/02/1947
Occupationex-Indian Police Service Officer
Known forpolicing during 2002 Gujarat riots
AwardsMedal for Meritorious Service (1990), Medal for Distinguished Service (1998)

Personal life

Sreekumar, a native of Ooruttambalam in Trivandrum District, Kerala, was born on 1947 February 12. He holds a post-graduate degree in history, Gandhian philosophy, law, and literature.[5] He worked as a lecturer in a college.

A 1971 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Sreekumar joined Gujarat police forces in 1972 and continued till his retirement in 2007 as additional director general of Police. He is the grandson of Indian freedom fighter, nationalist, journalist and writer Balaramapuram G Raman Pillai. He was married to Rajalakshmi. Their only daughter Deepa is a law practitioner. She lives in Gandhinagar.

2002 Gujarat Riots

Sreekumar was Additional Director General of Police in charge of armed unit in Gujarat during Godhra Incident and was Intelligence DGP immediately after 2002 Gujarat riots took place. He is known for the affidavits he filed to Nanavati-Mehta Commission and presentation to James Michael Lyngdoh the then Chief Election Commissioner of India alleging dubious role of law and order in the riots.[6] This led to cancellation of original proposal of early election in the state.[7] In one of the affidavits he annexed transcripts of illegal tutoring by bureaucrats to him in clandestine recordings and a semi-official register and of maintained during his tenure as DGP - Intelligence apart from other evidences.[8][9] The Times of India newspaper carried an exclusive news item based on his report to the Nanavati-Mehta Commission in which he documented the state's connivance at the perpetration of riots.

Subsequently, he was denied promotion by Gujarat government to the rank of Director General of Police. He took his case to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that gave its ruling in September 2006 in his favour. However, this order was once again reversed by the Gujarat High Court in 2015.[10]

ISRO Controversy

Sreekumar filed[11] defamation cases against Nambi Narayanan, along with BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Meenakshi Lekhi, for trying to malign his name using false charges in the ISRO spy case. Sreekumar further contended in that petition that he was Additional Director of Intelligence when Nambi Narayanan was arrested, and had no direct role in the criminal proceedings against him, which is supported by the Central Bureau of Investigation report of 2000 during Vajpayee government. And yet, Sreekumar contended, Nambi Narayanan alleged of torture etc. while letting off police officers who were actually named in the 2000 CBI report. The Supreme Court of India on 14 September 2018 upheld some claims of Nambi Narayanan, ordered a probe into the role of the Kerala police and awarded him 50 lakh rupees in damages.[12]

Awards
  • Medal for Meritorious Service (1990)
  • Medal for Distinguished Service (1998)

Books
  • Gujarat Behind the Curtain
  • The Diary of a Helpless Man
  • Gujarat: Irakalkku vendi oru porattam (Malayalam)

See also

References
  1. "Gujarat riot Muslims 'eliminated'". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC news. 14 April 2005.
  2. "Policeman accuses Gujarat BJP". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC news. 31 August 2004.
  3. "Retired Sreekumar promoted as DGP". The Indian express. 2–3 May 2008.
  4. "Cop Nails Gujarat Lie". Tehelka.com. 12 March 2005.
  5. http://www.harmonynotes.in/p/author.html
  6. http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/nanavati-panel-yet-to-summon-any-politician-for-questioning/
  7. http://hindu.com/2002/08/17/stories/2002081704870100.htm
  8. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-winning-promotion-battle-Sreekumar-retires/articleshow/1709716.cms
  9. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-gujarat-cops-are-most-corrupt-1202832
  10. "Retired Sreekumar promoted as DGP - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  11. "Modi has a snooping habit, I was told to tap Vaghela: Sreekumar". The Indian Express. 19 November 2013.
  12. https://www.news18.com/news/india/isro-espionage-case-supreme-court-awards-rs-50-lakh-to-scientist-nambi-narayanan-panel-to-probe-role-of-kerala-police-officers-1877173.html
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