Bangalore, May 28 (PTI): The Karnataka High Court today rejected the petitions filed by former Director General of Police S M Bidari and the state government seeking his reinstatement as IGP and DGP.

A division bench, comprising Justices N Kumar and H S Kempanna dismissed the
petitions after reviewing findings of the Justice Sadashiva Panel, which probed alleged atrocities committed by STF headed by Bidari to nab forest brigand Veerappan and concluding there was enough proof of the charges against Bidari in the report, including rape and torture.

The bench noted that there is a specific reference to the name of the Bidari in the Sadashiva panel report which is in nature of adverse comment with respect to his functioning as a Commandant of the Task Force.

The order further said the findings recorded by the panel would show that STF commanded by Bidari committed rape, torture, disrobing of women, giving electrical current and other excesses as set out therein.

"As the said panel report/NHRC orders are withheld from the UPSC/not placed before the UPSC, the empanelment of the third respondent by the UPSC is vitiated and consequently the order appointing the third respondent as the DG and IGP of Karnataka is also vitiated", the bench said.

In the light of the aforesaid discussions and findings of the Sadashiva panel and order passed by NHRC, the bench said it did not see any merit in these petitions and dismissed them with a direction to the parties to bear their own costs.

Reacting to the verdict, the present DGP A R Infant told PTI "it is a very good judgement. Justice has been done".

To a query on his continuation in the post as he was appointed the adhoc DGP after Bidari's appointment was quashed by the High Court on March 30, Infant said "its upto the government to decide".