Mumbai: A bitter feud between two senior IPS officers in Karnataka has taken a dramatic turn, with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vartika Katiyar leveling serious accusations against her superior, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Roopa Moudgil. In a formal complaint filed on February 20th with the Karnataka Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Katiyar alleges that Moudgil orchestrated the unauthorised entry into her office and the planting of confidential documents.
Katiyar’s complaint centers on an incident that allegedly occurred on September 6, 2024. She claims that two junior officers, head constable Manjunath TS and home guard Mallikarjun, entered her chamber without authorisation, accessing it using keys obtained from the Control Room while she was absent.
These officers, according to Katiyar’s statement, acted on direct orders from IGP Moudgil. Their mission, Katiyar alleges, was to place files into her office and photograph them before sharing the images on WhatsApp.
“I came to know about the matter recently… several (such) incidents … may have taken place in the past, but this has come to my notice. In the future, incidents like this may repeat and if anything wrong happens, D Roopa will be directly responsible,” Katiyar was quoted as saying Indian Express said.
The complaint emphasises the sensitive nature of the documents stored in Katiyar’s office, highlighting the seriousness of the unauthorised access. Katiyar stated that “Official and confidential documents are stored in my office room. Unauthorised entry, especially after office hours, is a crime.” She further contends that this wasn’t an isolated incident and suggests similar actions might have taken place previously, only coming to her attention recently.
Beyond the alleged planting of files, Katiyar’s complaint includes a claim of intimidation from Moudgil. She alleges that Moudgil threatened to submit a negative annual report about her performance. Further adding to the seriousness of the accusations, Katiyar revealed that her personal assistant had previously warned Mallikarjun against entering her office without permission. She confronted both Manjunath and Mallikarjuna, and, according to her complaint, they confessed to their actions, directly implicating Moudgil.
“Official and confidential documents are stored in my office room. Unauthorised entry, especially after office hours, is a crime,” she added.
Katiyar’s complaint also expresses concern about potential future reprisals, explicitly stating her belief that Moudgil intends to take revenge once she becomes the DG&IGP and has threatened to manipulate her annual appraisal. She strongly urged the Chief Secretary to take immediate action against Moudgil.
This incident adds another layer to the already complex history between these two officers. In February 2023, IGP Moudgil was involved in a highly publicized controversy involving IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri, where she made several allegations against Sindhuri on social media and shared her private photographs. While Sindhuri pursued legal action, the Supreme Court eventually stayed the proceedings.
