RB Sreekumar is a former IPS officer of 1971 batch. He is known for his actions against the Gujarat government after the 2002 Gujarat riots and for his alleged frame-up of ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan.
Wiki/Biography
RB Sreekumar was born on Wednesday, February 12, 1947, in Ooruttambalam, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala State (75 years; as of 2022). RB Sreekumar holds an LLM in History of Criminology, Gandhian Philosophy, Literature and Law from the University of Kerala.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: dark brown
family
RB Sreekumar belongs to the Malayan family.
Parents and siblings
His grandfather, Balaramapuram G. Raman Pillai, was a freedom fighter, critic and journalist. There is not much information about his parents or siblings.
wife and children
His wife’s name was Raja Lakshmi. His daughter Deepa is a lawyer practicing in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Religion/Religious Views
RB Sreekumar claims to be an Ambedkarite and as a Hindu scholar he has studied Hindu scriptures in great detail.
address
He resides in Plot No-193, Sreelekshmideepam, Sreelekshmideepam, Sector-8, Gandhinagar-382008, Gujarat.
Profession
Clearing UPSC
After completing his formal education in 1971, RB Sreekumar started working as a lecturer at the University of Kerala. A few months later, in 1971, he passed the UPSC examination and joined the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Telangana. He became an IPS officer from Gujarat cadre.
indian police force
After completing his training in 1972, RB Sreekumar was appointed as Superintendent of Police (SP), Gujarat. Throughout his service, he served as SP in seven districts of Gujarat. RB Sreekumar served as Commander on behalf of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) from 1979 to 1984. From 1986 to 1987, Sreekumar served as the Director of Safety, Gujarat State Electricity Board, as Deputy Inspector General (DIG). In 1987, he played a crucial role in foiling five Kutch espionage cases. The cases are related to infiltration of Pakistani spies into India and smuggling of arms and ammunition for militants operating in India through the Kutch district of Gujarat. This earned him the admiration of HA Barari, the then Director of the Intelligence Bureau. In 1987, RB Sreekumar was appointed Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB). His career was derailed in 1994 when he was accused of fabricating an espionage case against Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan. In 2000, he returned to Gujarat where he was promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). After his promotion, Srikumar was appointed as the in-charge of the Armed Forces of the Gujarat Police. He served as the chief of the armed forces until the end of the 2002 Gujarat riots. After the riots, RB Sreekumar was appointed as the head of the Intelligence Wing of the Gujarat Police.
RB Sreekumar in IPS jersey
Testify against Prime Minister Narendra Modi
RB Sreekumar became one of the few senior government officials to testify against the Gujarat government’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. In 2002, Srikumar appeared before the Nanavati-Mehta Commission and submitted a total of nine affidavits against the Gujarat government led by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Srikumar claimed in an interview,
Now let me tell you about the environment at that time. All the vakeels are on the side of the VHP; all the judges, many of the judges are on the side of the VHP, right; and doctors don’t treat patients because they are Muslims. What can be done in this situation? tell me. Bail applications are being ignored, what can we (the Home Office) do…continue…what can we say? This is true for society as a whole. The PP (Prosecutor) again… held discussions with the Law Minister. “
In 2002, Modi’s government in Gujarat attempted to call early elections in the state, claiming that state authorities had successfully controlled unrest in the state. Rejecting the claims of the Gujarat government, RB Sreekumar submitted a report on the 2002 Gujarat riots to the Election Commission of India, asking the then Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) JM Lyngdoh to postpone the Gujarat elections due to the sensitive situation in the state. state. A report submitted by RB Sreekumar said that 154 of the 182 constituencies in Gujarat were seriously affected by widespread riots. The Election Commission, while following the suggestions given by Sreekumar, said in its official statement,
In this environment, passionate campaigning will only undermine the fragile peace unless appropriate confidence-building measures are taken seriously and urgently. The most important of these is the arrest and punishment of the guilty, regardless of their status and the level of their crime. The committee referred to Deputy Commissioner of Police RB Sreekumar’s statement that 151 towns and 993 villages, covering 154 of the state’s 182 assembly constituencies, and 284 police stations out of 464 were affected by the riots. This apparently distorts claims by other authorities that the riots occurred only in certain parts of the state. “
RB Sreekumar was removed from the post of the Gujarat government in 2005 and refused promotion to the post of Director General of Police (DGP) due to his whistle-blowing behaviour. In 2006, he filed a complaint with the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). In 2008, a year after he received his pension, the CAT ruled in his favour. The retired IPS said in an interview,
I filed a lawsuit in 2005 and now I’m getting justice. This is a huge victory against a vindictive and malicious system. Such delays are nothing compared to victims like Naroda Patia who are still struggling with their cases. I will ask other officials to fight this government. “
dispute
Accused of violence in custody
In 1986, RB Sreekumar was accused of violence against an accused in his custody. The violence resulted in the accused suffering severe trauma, following which an FIR was registered against RB Sreekumar. The case was later settled and he was acquitted of all charges.
Accused of framing ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan
In 1994, under the direction of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Kerala police filed an FIR against Nambi Narayanan, a rocket scientist working with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for Leaked highly classified images and reports of underdeveloped projects. Vikas launched an attack on two Malaysian spies, Mariam Rasheeda and Fousiya Hassan. The FIR alleged that Nambi exchanged confidential data for sexual favors from two Malaysian spies. In 1996, the Indian government handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the issue sparked national outrage. India’s Central Bureau of Investigation believes that the allegations against Nambi Narayanan are baseless. In the report submitted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the location of the alleged conspiracy gathering did not match the actual location of the accused on the day when the alleged gathering was held. The case against Nambi Narayanan was dropped in 1998 because no conclusive evidence of espionage was found. The case was later referred to the Supreme Court, which further asked the Kerala government to pay compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Nambi and ordered action against the conspirators. In 2014, Nambi filed a defamation suit against the Intelligence Bureau in the Supreme Court, accusing RB Sreekumar of indulging in a series of mental and physical abuses. He further accused Srikumar of framing him and ordering the Kerala police to lodge a false FIR against him to satisfy his hatred against the scientist. Nambi said in an official statement recorded by the CBI,
When Sreekumar was the VSSC Commander, he had requested me to appoint his niece or nephew to Thumba, but due to fair procedure, she/he could not be selected. Srikumar then came to my office to express his anger and I asked him to step out otherwise I would call the police. Srikumar said I will regret it in the future. ”
Nambi also stated in his FIR that Srikumar and his colleagues forced him to give a false confession on video tape. RB Sreekumar, defending, told the CBI that he had no direct connection with the case and that he had only interrogated the two Malaysian women for two days. RB Sreekumar has also been accused by former Kerala police chief Siby Mathews of forcing him to file a false espionage case against Nambi Narayanan.
False accusations against the Prime Minister
In June 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed the suit filed by RB Sreekumar, Sanjiv Bhatt, Teesta Setalvad (and their NGO) and Zakia Jafri. Soon after the suit was dismissed, Srikumar was detained by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Gujarat Police. Srikumar has been accused of obtaining and presenting false evidence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Supreme Court. The court also accused Bhatt, Sreekumar and Teesta Setalvad of playing with the feelings of Zakia Jafri, a victim of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Pursuant to Section 468, Section 471 (Forgery), Section 194 (Providing or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure the imposition of death penalty), Section 211 (Instituting criminal proceedings with intent to cause harm), Section 218 (Public servant framed by incorrect records or with intent to save a person from punishment or to save property from forfeiture), and Section 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy). The court stated in its judgment,
Ultimately, it seems to us that disgruntled Gujarat officials joined forces with others to create a stir by disclosing information that was inconsistent with what they themselves knew. After a thorough investigation, the SIT thoroughly exposed the falsity of their claims… In fact, all those involved in such abuse of process need to appear in court and be dealt with according to the law. These proceedings have been ongoing for the past 16 years with the ulterior motive of keeping the pot boiling. ”
After Srikumar’s arrest, former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan said Srikumar had adopted the same tactic and provided false evidence against him in court. Nambi said in an interview,
I learned that he was arrested today and charges were filed against him for continuing to make up stories and try to sensationalize them. This is exactly what he did in my case. Our system is such that anyone can say anything loose and get away with it. I am glad to note that he was arrested, for everything has its limits, and he has exceeded them all in his decency. ”
Awards
- In 1990, RB Sreekumar was awarded the Order of Merit by the Government of India.
- In 1998, RB Sreekumar was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Government of India.
Pensions as DGP
As DGP, RB Sreekumar’s pension is Rs 2,25,000 + other allowances (till 2022).
Facts/Trivia
- RB Sreekumar knows how to play the sitar, an Indian classical instrument.
RB Sreekumar sitting in front of the sitar
- In March 2014, RB Sreekumar joined the Aam Aadmi Party.
RB Sreekumar at press conference
- On September 12, 2017, RB Sreekumar wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to include Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s academic works in the educational curriculum of Kerala.
- In 2017, RB Sreekumar, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requested the Indian government to declare Thirukural, a classic Tamil literature, as the national book of India.
- RB Sreekumar is the author of books such as “Diary of a Helpless Man” (2013) and “Gujarat: Behind the Scenes” (2016), which is set against the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat riots. He has also published a book on the Malayalam riots. The book is titled Gujarat: Irakalkkuvendi Oru Porattam (2008).
RB Sreekumar at the launch of Urdu version of his book ‘Gujarat: Behind the Scenes’
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education