DySP Anupama Shenoy gets transfer order for holding minister’s call

Ballari, Jan 22: Can a government officer be punished for keeping the phone call of a minister on hold and attending to another call?

There is no rule of the kind but reliable sources say a woman officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police, Ms Anupama Shenoy, posted at Kudligi police sub-division in the district, has been shunted out of the district for keeping the phone call of district-in-charge and labour minister P.T. Parameshwar Naik on hold and speaking to her higher-officer, within a day.

Sources said that Ms Shenoy received a call on her mobile phone Monday evening (January 18) from an unknown number and the person at the other end said, “District in-charge minister (wants to) talk to you.”

She reportedly waited for 25 to 30 seconds but there was no response from the other side. In the meantime, she got a call from her higher officer and cut the call of the minister’s aide to speak to her higher-up.

Within few minutes, she received a call again from the unknown number and district in charge minister Mr Naik spoke to her saying, “Can’t (you) hold the phone call for a minute when the district in charge minister is on the line”.

The conversation between them reportedly continued for about 25 minutes and finally, the minister warned her of serious consequences.

The next day, (January 19) night, she got an order transferring her to Athani in Belagavi district and on January 20, she got another order transferring her to Indi in Vijayapura district.