Mumbai: The Andhra Pradesh government has suspended three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers following serious allegations made by actress Kadambari Jethwani. The suspension came after Jethwani accused the officers of misconduct related to her illegal detention and harassment.
The suspended officers include P. Sitaram Anjaneyulu, former Director General of Police (DGP), Kranti Rana Tata, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Vijayawada, and Vishal Gunni, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Vijayawada. Jethwani alleged that these officers were complicit in her unlawful detention, which led to their suspension.
Kadambari Jethwani, a 28-year-old model and actress, began her career after relocating to Mumbai. Educated at prominent schools in Ahmedabad and holding a Visharad in Bharatnatyam, Jethwani made her film debut with "Sadda Adda" and has since acted in films across Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Punjabi languages.
The controversy erupted when Jethwani and her family alleged that they were detained and harassed by police officers without proper legal justification.
An investigation revealed that one of the suspended officers had issued verbal orders for Jethwani's arrest before an official complaint was lodged. This action, along with the failure to follow legal procedures, led to accusations of serious misconduct and abuse of power.
The officer had reportedly arranged for Jethwani’s arrest on January 31, 2024, despite an official FIR not being filed until February 2. Additionally, the officer facilitated the arrest without a written order or thorough investigation, which was deemed a significant breach of duty.
In response to Jethwani's online complaint, Director General of Police Dwarka Tirumala Rao has launched a thorough investigation into the matter. Jethwani personally provided her statement to the Vijayawada Police on August 30, 2024, outlining the harassment she and her family endured.
Jethwani has claimed that the film producer, a political leader, filed false charges against her and her family as an act of revenge. The producer alleged that Jethwani forged documents to illegally acquire land and extorted ₹5 lakh. Following these accusations, a case was filed against Jethwani and her parents, leading to their arrest and subsequent release on bail.
Jethwani firmly denies these allegations and asserts that the case against her was a retaliatory measure orchestrated by the producer in collusion with certain police officials.
