ACP suspended for campaigning for wife in AP assembly polls

An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), attached to Gopalpuram division in the city, has been suspended for campaigning for his wife and Telengana Rashtra Samiti candidate during the assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, while on "unauthorised absence".

"RDS Bhandari had reportedly campaigned for his wife who contested assembly elections from Parkala assembly segment in Warangal district", police sources said on Friday.

Bhandari was suspended following a complaint by city Police Commissioner RP Singh to government, alleging that the ACP had gone on unauthorised leave for the last three weeks without obtaining prior permission from the authorities, they said.

The commissioner has alleged that Bhandari was absent from his duties and reportedly worked for the victory of his wife and TRS candidate from Parkala, thus committing a grave misconduct in discharging official duties, sources said.

After an inquiry ordered by the Home department proved the allegations against the ACP, the government initiated action against Bhandari. The Election Commission, to whom the matter was referred to, endorsed the government's move to suspend the official.