HYDERABAD: While disciplinary action against a DSP and an SHO has been recommended by a three-member inquiry committee, another inquiry has been ordered by Hyderabad AIG Ghulam Qadir Thebo against the DSP, Faheem Farooqui, regarding two clips, that had gone viral on the social media, showing him committing theft.

The fresh inquiry was ordered on Hyderabad SSP’s report.

A three-member team comprising Sujawal SP Suhai Aziz Talpur, ASP Aneel Hyder and inspector Siraj Lashari had conducted the previous inquiry that was ordered in May by Hyderabad DIG Naeem Shaikh after an audio clip of DSP (perhaps a monologue) went viral on the social media and different WhatsApp groups.

The DSP was heard in his audio expressing his grievances against the then Pinyari SHO, Niaz Panhwar, and to some extent Hyderabad SSP for police failure to control sale of contraband mainpuri and gutka. He perhaps tried to show as if he was talking to AIG Thebo. Later, the AIG had demoted Inspector Niaz Panhwar to the rank of sub-inspector. The DSP was not punished; rather he was transferred to the AIG’s office.

The AIG recently posted the DSP as the SDPO of Chhalgari while Niaz Panhwar was posted in Jamshoro.

The SP Suhai-led inquiry committee, according to police sources, recommended departmental action against the DSP for using an informal channel to give vent to his feelings or expressing his grievances. It was concluded that the DSP had bypassed police hierarchy to present his complaint against the SHO.

It was learnt that a separate inquiry has been recommended to determine which ‘illegal’ orders of the DSP were disobeyed by SHO Panhwar.

Panhwar had told the probe team that he was being asked by the DSP to obey his illegal orders. Action has, however, been recommended against him for disobeying the DSP.

Another factor, sources said, came to fore that the DSP made a post-dated entry against the SHO which pertained to an FIR. “The FIR was registered later but an entry in the relevant police register was mentioned by the DSP prior to its registration. This fact came to the fore during another ongoing inquiry against reader of Pinyari police station by ASP [Aneel Hyder],” said a source.

Speaking to Dawn on Wednesday, the DSP claimed he had been exonerated in the inquiry. “I have the inquiry report,” said DSP Farooqui when contacted over phone. When asked to share it on WhatsApp, he excused himself by saying that it was lying at his home.

The Hyderabad AIG on Wednesday entrusted another inquiry against him to Jamshoro SSP Amjad Ahmed Sheikh in the backdrop of a video of the DSP visiting two marts and allegedly committing theft. The AIG directed the SSP to complete the inquiry — into the video clips that went viral on the social media and carried by some news channel — against SDPO Chhalgari Faheem Farooqui within the next seven days.

The inquiry was ordered after the Hyderabad DIG forwarded the Hyderabad SSP’s report to the AIG regarding the video clips.

In his report, the SSP said that “on June 25 a video clip became viral on electronic media and social media of alleged incident against DSP Faheem Ahmed Farooqui. According to video clip, officer was caught by security staff through CCTV at a mart on Autobhan road. During search stolen item i.e. packet of cashew nuts was recovered from his possession. Afterwards, he paid for stolen product and left”.

The SSP disclosed that “on June 27 another clip became viral against DSP wherein he was allegedly involved in theft of Aloe Vera gel from another mart at Hala Naka. To ascertain authenticity of alleged incidents, owners/managers were contacted. Mr Nadeem and Mansoor Jatoi verified alleged incidents but they replied they didn’t want to proceed further for legal action”.

Meanwhile, the DSP defended himself by claiming: “I am facing back-to-back inquiries because I am not allowing illegal businesses in my area, wherever I am posted”. He said that he was seeking registration of FIR against two reporters and a cameraman of two different channels which reported the matter. He has also moved FIA to seek registration of a cybercrime case against them.

The reporters and cameraman are defending themselves in court and they stand by their reports.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2020