BS People: R Srikumar

Cyber cop

As a policeman in a state known for its software prowess, it’s hardly surprising that R Srikumar is a techie at heart. And although his recent appointment as a member of the Central Vigilance Commission was mired in controversy, colleagues and subordinates swear by his integrity. Combine the two and you have a decorated officer who has used technology to crack some of the most high-profile cases in the country. Among them: the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the 1992 Harshad Mehta scam.

A BTech from IIT-Madras with a Master’s in Business Law from National Law School of India, University of Bangalore, Srikumar rose to become director general and inspector general of police, Karnataka, until his retirement in January, 2009. Since then, he has been associated with the Confederation of Indian Industry as head of the Southern Region Task Force on Internal Security and as chairman of the Karnataka chapter of the Cyber Society of India.

His faith in his investigating officers as well as his “no-nonsense attitude” won him the respect of subordinates, said an officer who had worked with him in the CBI in the late 1980s. The Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer was transferred after his marriage to Karnataka cadre IAS officer Ranjini, who is now a principal secretary.

Srikumar had played very significant roles in bringing about professional management, technology absorption, transparency and accountability in the state’s police force. He was decorated with the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President Police Medal for Distinguished Services. Clearly, a tough cop for a tough job.