Slapgate incident: Karnataka senior cop seeks voluntary retirement after CM Siddaramaiah’s public slap gesture; awaits government approval

DHARWAD: District additional superintendent of police Narayan V Baramani, who has four years of service before attaining superannuation, has requested the home department seeking voluntary retirement (VRS).

Chief minister Siddaramaiah had raised his hand in a gesture to slap him on the dais at a public function held at Belagavi in April.He has submitted his request a month ago. Baramani told TOI that he was waiting for the government to accept his request.Baramani, who has served in police department for 31 years, had felt humiliated after the slapping incident and had mentioned the incident in his letter seeking VRS, sources said. Baramani had gone from Dharwad on duty to Belagavi.What happened in BelagaviThe CM was enraged after some BJP activists raised slogans against the CM and the government and waved black flags. Siddaramaiah had asked who was the SP and summoned Baramani who was near the stage onto the dais. As he approached the CM to listen to what the latter wanted to say, Siddaramaiah raised his hand in a gesture to slap the police officer. This incident in full public view had drawn sharp condemnation and criticism from the citizens, opposition parties.

The police personnel had also resented the CM's act but had not openly reacted to the incident.

Baramani was summoned by the chief minister and home minister after he sent his request for VRS and tried to convince him not to press for the acceptance of his letter, sources said.