In a significant development, three senior IPS officers from Andhra Pradesh were suspended following the unlawful arrest of Bollywood actor and model Kadambari Jethwani. The suspended officers, former Vijayawada Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata, former Deputy Commissioner Vishal Gunni, and former Intelligence Chief Sitharama Anjaneyalu, were accused of serious procedural lapses.
The controversy erupted when Jethwani and her family were arrested in Mumbai on February 2, 2024, without any written orders or sufficient evidence. The arrest was linked to a case of alleged extortion and forgery filed by YSR Congress Party leader and movie producer KVR Vidyasagar, who accused Jethwani of being involved in a land dispute. Jethwani filed a formal complaint with the NTR District Police Commissioner in August, alleging that the officers acted hastily, under pressure from Vidyasagar, without following proper legal procedures.
The officers arrested Jethwani and her family before an FIR had even been filed, a major violation of due process. Furthermore, Jethwani and her parents were held in judicial custody for over 40 days. Her advocate, N Srinivas, accused Vidyasagar of fabricating evidence and colluding with the police to carry out the unlawful arrest, which led to significant mental torture and humiliation for the family.
The inquiry, initiated by the Andhra Pradesh government, concluded that the officers acted solely on oral instructions and failed to conduct a thorough investigation. The state’s disciplinary actions were swift, with the officers being suspended under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The government also expressed concerns that the suspended officers could tamper with evidence and influence witnesses if they were not restricted to their headquarters.
This case has garnered widespread attention, raising concerns about police misconduct and the misuse of power, especially in politically motivated cases(India Today)(Republic World)(The News Minute).
