IPS Alok Kumar Rebuts Karnataka Govt in Supreme Court
Senior IPS Alok Kumar writes to Karnataka Chief Secretary to contest allegations made against him in the Supreme Court regarding KPSC probe.
In a significant escalation of a legal battle, senior IPS officer Alok Kumar, currently serving as the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, has formally written to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh. The officer is contesting the State Government's recent submissions before the Supreme Court, which he claims have unfairly questioned his integrity.
The Controversy Over SIT Appointment
The friction began during a Supreme Court hearing on October 1, where Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Karnataka government, opposed Kumar's appointment as the head of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT was constituted by the Karnataka High Court to investigate alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment examinations.
During the proceedings, Sibal suggested that Kumar was under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation to a 2019 phone-tapping case. Alok Kumar has expressed deep distress over his name being dragged into such a controversy, labeling the government's claims as factually incorrect.
Clarifying the CBI Probe
Alok Kumar provided a detailed rebuttal to the allegations regarding the 2019 phone-tapping incident. He highlighted several key points to clear his name:
- The Closure Report: Kumar noted that the CBI had filed a "B-report" (a closure report) in the case. This report was officially accepted by the Special CBI Court on February 13, 2024.
- Lack of Evidence: The decision to close the case followed findings from the Centre for Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) and witness statements, which revealed no material evidence of wrongdoing.
- Complainant's Stance: The original complainant, former DCP Kuldeep R Jain, had also expressed no objection to the closure of the case.
- Limited Tenure: Kumar clarified that his tenure as the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner during the period in question was only 47 days, spanning from June 17 to August 2, 2019.
Departmental Action and Legal Victories
Addressing the issue of departmental proceedings, the IPS officer clarified that a previous proposal for action had been dropped in March 2023 after being reviewed by the then Chief Minister.
He further pointed out that a fresh show-cause notice and charge sheet issued in May 2025 were subsequently quashed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Chairman in October 2025. The CAT had also directed the government to extend all consequential benefits to him. While the State's writ petition challenging this decision is currently pending before the High Court, no interim stay has been granted.
A Suo Motu Nomination
A crucial point raised by Kumar is that he did not seek the position of SIT head. Instead, he was nominated suo motu (on its own motion) by a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court on September 21. The court had ordered the formation of the SIT to probe the KPSC recruitment scandal and directed all agencies to provide full cooperation to the new team.
With the Supreme Court staying the High Court's previous order and directing the State to file an affidavit by October 12, Kumar has urged the Chief Secretary to ensure that the legal team is provided with correct judicial records. He emphasized that unverified allegations should not be included in the government's official submissions to the highest court in the land.