Right after HD Kumaraswamy’s oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday 23, 2018 as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, a number of media outlets were seen publishing articles pertaining to the transfer of the state’s highest ranked police official, DG & IGP Neelamani Raju.
This came after West Bengal Chief Minister, who was one of the attendees, had allegedly complained to the newly appointed CM of Karnataka about the inadequacy of the arrangements at the ceremony.
The news which was first broken by the admin of Postcard News hinted that CM Kumaraswamy had instructed Neelamani Raju’s transfer. This news was then picked up by Swarajya, DNA and Financial Express. Individuals also came out on social media to express their views and add their opinions to the building discourse.
CM Kumaraswamy instructs transfer of first women DG-IGP of Karnataka Neelamani Raju on orders of Mamata Banerjee, because she made her walk few meters!
— Mahesh Vikram Hegde (@mvmeet) May 24, 2018
Swarajya Magazine even published an article titled “ Kumaraswamy Government’s Day Two: DGP Neelamani Who Insulted Mamata By Making Her Walk Transferred,” however, upon a closer look, the media house updated the article refuting the fake news while keeping the old title in the URL.
Outlets like Zee News and Financial Express were also quick to pick up on the news.
The Real Story
In a video posted by ANI on their Twitter handle, a displeased Mamata Banerjee was seen complaining to Kumaraswamy and former PM Deve Gowda at the dais, allegedly over the fact that she had to walk a short distance since several vehicles had blocked the venue entrance, reported The News Minute.
In the video, Mamata Banerjee was also ‘seen’ giving an earful to Neelamani Raju, the state’s topmost police officer. The video which served as the basis of much of the fake articles that made the rounds of social media lacked any concrete evidence, given that it did not have any audio clip.
#WATCH: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reprimands DIG Neelamani Raju as she came to Karnataka Vidhana Soudha for oath taking ceremony because reportedly had to walk a few metres, also expressed discontentment to HD Deve Gowda & HD Kumaraswamy. #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/WZ2n0QVE9b
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
However, the office of the DGP, while talking to The Logical Indian said, “No, she hasn’t been transferred. The story of her transfer was a fake news.”
HD Kumaraswamy, while speaking to the media, said that he had received Neelamani’s verbal report and that he has not issued orders for her transfer, reported The News Minute.
“I am only the CM-designate, not the CM until the floor test is over. I cannot make decisions about who should be transferred. Neelamani Raju has not been transferred now,” the CM added.
Who is Neelamani Raju?
Hailing from Uttarakhand, Nelamani Raju is the first woman DG and IGP of Karnataka. She is a 1983 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who was posted in Karnataka in 2017.
The Logical Indian Take
To ensure that our national debate is healthy and well-informed, each one of us has a responsibility of treating what we read, see or share with a pinch of salt, a spoonful of doubt, and a flood of research. All of us, at times, may get waylaid by dressed-up fake or false information. It’s ok to make mistakes, as long as we learn from them.