Thiruvananthapuram: An investigation has been ordered against a civil police officer (CPO) of Pettah police station for allegedly giving his mobile phone to an aide of goon Puthenpalam Rajesh while in custody. City police commissioner K Karthik ordered the probe following reports of protocol violations at the station.Rajesh and his aide Rajeev were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a vendor and his associate in the city. According to police sources, Rajeev requested CPO Shafi, who was on duty at the time, to provide a phone to call home. The officer allegedly handed over his personal mobile phone, which Rajeev returned after making the call. The irregularity came to light when deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Deepak Dhankar arrived at the station for an inspection after learning about the arrest of the goon and the protocol violations. He then checked the accused CPO’s phone and found that it had been used to place a call to the residence of the goon’s aide. The matter was subsequently reported to the commissioner, who ordered a detailed inquiry. Police sources said DCP was personally overseeing the investigation and departmental action may be initiated against the CPO if lapses were confirmed.
