Rajkumar Pandian
{{short description|Indian Police Service officer}}
Rajkumar Pandian (RK Pandian) is an Indian Police Service officer. He came to attention over claims in the death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. From 2016 he was Inspector-general of police in Junagadh, even while the Sohrabuddin case was in courts. In 2018 the Bombay High Court upheld his discharge from this case.
Sohrabuddin case
In 2007 Rajnish Rai arrested Pandian along with D G Vanzara and Dinesh M N related to the death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.{{cite web |last1=Mahurkar |first1=Uday |last2=Parijar |first2=Rohit |title=IPS officers D G Vanzara, R K Pandian arrested in Sohrabuddin's encounter case |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20070507-ips-officers-arrested-for-fake-encounters-748457-2007-05-07 |website=India Today |language=en |date=7 May 2007}} In March 2014 Pandian got bail after having been in prison for seven years since his 2007 arrest.{{cite web |last1=Kumar |first1=Devesh |title=Sohrabuddin encounter: suspended Gujarat IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian gets bail |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sohrabuddin-encounter-suspended-gujarat-ips-officer-rajkumar-pandian-gets-bail-555410 |website=NDTV |date=28 March 2014}}
In April 2013 The Hindu reported that Pandian was found to be at his home during the time when he was supposed to be incarcerated.{{cite web |author1=special correspondent |title=TV shows jailed IPS officer visiting home |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tv-shows-jailed-ips-officer-visiting-home/article4667408.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=29 April 2013}} The explanation seemed to be that Pandian was getting undisclosed and favored treatment to leave the jail.
After 2014
In 2016 Pandian held a position at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.{{cite web |author1=Press Trust of India |author1-link=Press Trust of India |title=Gujarat: State govt transfers 21 IPS officers, Rajkumar Pandian back in state |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/gujarat-state-govt-transfers-21-ips-officers-rajkumar-pandian-back-in-state-3079820/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=13 October 2016}} Following that position, he took a post as Inspector-general of police in Junagadh. There was consideration in 2017 that he might take a post in the Ahmedabad crime Branch.{{cite web |title=Rajkumar Pandian likely to head A'bad Crime Branch? |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/rajkumar-pandian-likely-to-head-abad-crime-branch/articleshow/57047252.cms |website=Ahmedabad Mirror |language=en |date=9 February 2017}}
In February 2018 Pandian claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation had framed him in the Sohrabuddin case.{{cite web |author1=Press Trust of India |author1-link=Press Trust of India |title=Sohrabuddin Case: I Fought Dawood; CBI Framed Me, Says IPS Officer In Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sohrabuddin-case-i-fought-dawood-cbi-framed-me-says-ips-officer-in-court-1816856?fb&fbclid=IwAR20JeLU_iVwon1E7MjVwtO2FWjRySeujPulcjcEnLgefb8iKr09KMb3psc |website=NDTV |date=25 February 2018}}{{cite web |author1=Scroll Staff |title=IPS officer Rajkumar Pandian, accused in Sohrabuddin case, claims CBI framed him |url=https://scroll.in/latest/869953/ips-officer-rajkumar-pandian-accused-in-sohrabuddin-case-claims-cbi-framed-him |website=Scroll.in |date=25 February 2018}} In 2018 the Bombay High Court upheld Pandian's discharge from the Sohrabuddin case.{{cite web |author1=Press Trust of India |author1-link=Press Trust of India |title=Bombay HC upholds discharge of Vanzara, 4 others in Sohrabuddin case |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bombay-hc-upholds-discharge-of-vanzara-4-others-in-sohrabuddin-case/story-5MX41KTXxO2X0cmAwY6dhO.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=10 September 2018}}
In 2019 Pandian arrested cybercriminals who had stolen money from his wife.{{cite web |author1=DNA Correspondent |title=4 held from UP for duping Surat Range IG's wife of Rs 1.37 lakh |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-4-held-from-up-for-duping-surat-range-ig-s-wife-of-rs-137-lakh-2741622 |website=DNA India |language=en |date=21 April 2019}}
In 2019 Pandian expressed interest in reviewing criminal complaints about land disputes.{{cite web |title=THE SECRETARIAT: MEA calling Gujarat IAS officer |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/the-sercetariat-doing-things-differently/articleshow/70425004.cms |website=Ahmedabad Mirror |language=en |date=29 July 2019}}
Comments on police work
In his role as a police officer Pandian has regularly given comment to the media on law enforcement. In 2018 he commented on a violent crime.{{cite web |author1=Press Trust of India |author1-link=Press Trust of India |title=Man stabs 5 during Ganesh immersion procession in Gujarat |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/crime/man-stabs-5-during-ganesh-immersion-procession-in-gujarat/articleshow/65932294.cms |website=Ahmedabad Mirror |language=en |date=24 September 2018}} In 2020 he commented on enforcing COVID-19 quarantine.{{cite web |last1=Jha |first1=Satish |title=Amidst lockdown, two policemen arrested for offering prayer at a mosque in south Gujarat |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/amidst-lockdown-two-policemen-arrested-for-offering-prayer-at-a-mosque-in-south-gujarat-821418.html |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |date=4 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Partying doesn't stop in Surat |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/crime/partying-doesnt-stop-in-surat/articleshow/79981953.cms |website=Ahmedabad Mirror |language=en |date=28 December 2020}} In December 2020 he commented on the use of CCTV to monitor traffic safety.{{cite web |last1=Mehta |first1=Yagnesh Bharat |title=CCTVs to penalize highway traffic violators in Valsad |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/cctvs-to-penalize-highway-traffic-violators-in-valsad/articleshow/79981146.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en |date=28 December 2020}}
References
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Category:Indian police officers