Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Sep 4: Senior IPS officer, additional director general of police (ADGP) for internal security, Kempaiah, who had opted for voluntary retirement from service a few weeks back, after differences between him and director general of police (DGP)Ajai Kumar Singh came to the fore, surprised many by reporting for duties at his office on Thursday September 3.

It may be recalled, that the DGP had recommended disciplinary action against Kempaiah after the ADGP reportedly behaved rudely with the DGP. Kempaiah had proceeded on leave and in the meantime, submitted his willingness to retire under the voluntary retirement scheme. Home minister V S Acharya had revealed, that the government had accepted his option for voluntary retirement with immediate effect and had waived the notice period of three months. The government wanted to avoid disciplinary action against Kempaiah, a senior IPS officer set to retire in 2011, by allowing him to voluntarily retire instead.

Kempaiah suddenly appeared at the office of the director general located on Nrupatunga Road in the city on Thursday morning, proceeding to his office and starting working. "I had gone on leave of one month. I have cut short my leave and reported for duties," he said, when queried. About his resignation, he said he had opted to voluntarily retire and that he had received the acceptance letter. "As there is a three-month notice period, I have joined for duties. On Wednesday, I have written to the chief secretary of the state, expressing my willingness to withdraw the retirement letter," he said. The office of the chief secretary confirmed having received the letter.

The home minister however, expressed surprise about this development. "He has left his job and the government has accepted his option to retire. How can he attend to his duties again?" he questioned.

It is said, Kempaiah had sent a letter to the DGP about joining for duties, immediately after coming to the office. However, Singh reportedly retorted by pointing out that he was no more a government employee and that his voluntary retirement option had been published in the gazette.

It may be recalled, that Kempaiah was one of the few illustrious police officers of Karnataka. He had his moments of controversies and glory and had been employed to handle a number of sensitive issues. Kempaiah was instrumental in tracking Sivarasan and Shobha, who had masterminded the killing of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandh and then holed up in Konanakunte in the outskirts of the city in 1991.