Probe begins against policeman who complained against Mulayam

Suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur on Wednesday appeared before Police Recruitment Board Director General V.K. Gupta as part of a departmental inquiry launched against him.

The proceedings were video recorded, where Thakur was formally intimated about the charges against him and was asked whether he accepted them or not.

The inspector general had crossed swords with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav by alleging that he had threatened him over telephone and had lodged a police complaint.

Thakur, however called the probe against him "politically motivated" and a "direct offshoot" of his complaint against Yadav.

He said that even the inquiry officer was appointed in violation of rules because neither his explanation was called for nor was he given the mandatory personal hearing.

Thakur requested Gupta to wait for the final order by the Central Administrative Tribal, Lucknow where he had challenged the probe and also the appointment of the inquiry officer.

Gupta rejected it, saying it can be decided only at the state government level.

He asked Thakur to present his facts on the next date of hearing on August 28.

Thakur has been suspended after he filed a complaint against Yadav. A host of inquiries against him, including two in rape cases, have been initiated against him.

Thakur and his social activist wife Nutan Thakur have alleged that this was being done as they had filed a petition against the state's Mining Minister Gayatri Prajapati, who is close to the Yadav family.