Former K’taka DGP slaps notice on top cop who ‘exposed’ Sasikala bribe case

Former Karnataka deputy inspector general of prisons Roopa D Moudgil, who alleged that AIADMK leader VK Sasikala received preferential treatment in Bengaluru Central Prison by paying a bribe, has been issued a legal notice by former Director General of Police (prisons) HN Sathyanarayana Rao seeking apology for saying there were allegations of bribery against him.

In her report, Moudgil had said she heard allegations Sasikala paid a bribe of ₹2 crore to prison officials, including Rao, for getting privileged treatment, including a private kitchen.

In a notice dated July 16 and released by his lawyers, Rao has denied all the allegations and sought a public apology from Moudgil within three days .

The notice says Rao will file defamation suits, both civil and criminal, for ₹50 crore even if Moudgil apologises, as her report “has caused untold mental agony to him”. Reacting to the notice on Thursday, Moudgil stuck to her stand. “I have done my duty... There is a complaint pending with the anti-corruption bureau, and it has to look into the matter,” Moudgil said.

In the notice, a copy of which HT has accessed, Rao’s lawyers have accused Moudgil of leaking her report to Rao on the alleged irregularities even before it reached him. “Thus, it is clear that publicity was the main intention in writing such a complaint,” the notice says. The notice says Moudgil had some axe to grind against Rao “and to achieve same you have made baseless allegations and the same has tarnished the image of my client.”

NOTICE SAYS RAO WILL FILE DEFAMATION SUIT FOR ₹50 CRORE AGAINST MOUDGIL AS HER REPORT HAD CAUSED HIM ‘UNTOLD AGONY’