Divakar, head of the fraud and misappropriation squad of the Crime Branch before he opted for retirement last year, is reported to be angling for a JD(S) ticket.

The fifth officer Bawa, against whom a departmental inquiry was carried out in connection with the Telgi case, is joining politics after formal retirement and seeking a Congress ticket.

While most officers cite a desire to do public service as the primary driving force behind their decision to join politics, the lack of scope for reaching higher posts and a pro-active anti-corruption agency like the Lokayukta are also reasons for early exits.

In the last 24 months, the Lokayukta has arrested 18 police officers above the rank of police inspector on corruption charges, including two superintendents of police, one additional SP, two Deputy SPs and two assistant commissioners of police.

“In a sense my police career had come to a dead end,” says Subhash Bharani. “There was no point in continuing to remain in government service. At the same time I am still young at heart and have been doing public service for the last 33 years. I don’t want to live a passive life, so I decided to enter politics.”

Bharani, who has been criticised for dedicating more time to politics than government service as a police officer, has built a sizeable constituency as a Dalit leader and is confident of winning if given a ticket. “I have expressed my desire to my seniors in the Congress party and if asked to contest, I am ready to do so,” he said.

... contd.