SC grants interim protection to suspended IPS officer of Chhattisgarh, calls cops siding with ruling party a 'disturbing trend'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday called police officials siding with the ruling party and later being targeted by the Opposition, when it comes to power, a "disturbing trend" in the country amid allegations of politically motivated investigations cropping from several states in India,

Rendering the strong message, Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana said those police officers who desire to be in the good books of the ruling party misuse their position and power to harass political opponents.

"This is a very disturbing trend in the country and the police department is also responsible for this… When a political party is in power, police officials take the side of the particular (ruling) party. Then when another new party comes into power, the government initiates action against the police officials. This needs to be stopped," the CJI said.

He asserted that police officials must stick to the rule of law and added that it is the police who should be held responsible for the trend.

The court was hearing the petition of a suspended police officer in Chhattisgarh, charged with sedition. The 1994 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Gurjinder Pal Singh, has pleaded the court to quash the FIR lodged against him charging with corruption, conspiracy against the Chhattisgarh state government and possession of illegal wealth.

He alleged that the Congress government in the state is targeting him since they believe he is too close to the former BJP government. The apex court has directed the state government not to arrest the officer and has asked the Congress-led state government to file its responses in the two separate petitions within four weeks.