The buffalo saga of Azam Khan took a new twist today as a senior IPS officer was slapped with a notice by the UP DGP over his comments that "new hopes" generated by the instant recovery of the minister's buffaloes helped little in recovering his son's stolen bicycle.
Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) issued a notice to IPS officer Amitabh Thakur seeking his explanation for his "improper conduct" within a week, official sources said here.
In an interview to news channels, the IPS officer had said that instant recovery of the minister's buffaloes have generated "new hopes" but it was sad that no one from Gomti Nagar police (in Lucknow) had even come to inquire about his FIRs regarding his son's cycle which was stolen in 2011 and his getting cheated of Rs 5,000 in 2013.
In the notice to the officer, the DGP office considered it as "criticism of the UP government" saying the statement he made without the government's permission constitutes improper conduct under Rules 7 and 17 of the All India Services Conduct Rules.
Meanwhile, Amitabh's wife, Nutak Thakur said that the statement presented the "discrimination" shown by the police between "powerful and ordinary people".
"This instance clearly shows that anyone who speaks the truth shall always be ready to get penalised," she added.
Last month, seven buffaloes went missing from Khan's farmhouse. After a complaint the police had pressed in sniffer dogs. Crime branch sleuths and police teams recovered the stolen animals within two days.
Three policemen were suspended for dereliction of duty.
The unfazed minister later said that his bovines were more famous than Queen Victoria.
