‘Politics Is A Noble Profession’: Suspended IPS Officer Basant Rath Resigns, Hints At Joining Politics

Basant Rath was suspended in the year 2020 with immediate effect by the central government in connection with “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour”.

New Delhi: Suspended Indian Police Services (IPS) officer Basant Rath announced his resignation from the services on Sunday via social media, hinting that he is going to join politics to contest elections from Kashmir, reported news agency PTI. 

Rath, who will be completing two years of his suspension next month, wrote on his twitter handle “KangriCarrier”, as well as WhatsApp status and Instagram post, “politics is a noble profession”, as per the report.  

Sharing his copy of resignation letter addressed to J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta and marked to Director General of Police Dilbag Singh and Commandant General Home Guard H K Lohia, Rath said “I wish to resign from the Indian Police Service in order to be able to participate in electoral politics. 

"Please consider this letter as my request for resignation/voluntary retirement and process it accordingly … ,” he said in his letter dated June 25.

In a post earlier in the day, Rath had written: ““If I ever join a political party, it will be BJP. If I ever contest an election, it will be from Kashmir. If I ever join politics, it will be before March 6, 2024.” 

Rath was suspended in the year 2020 with immediate effect by the central government in connection with “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour”.

An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “A disciplinary proceeding against Shri Basant Rath (IPS: RR: 2000, JK) is contemplated in connection with repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour, which have been brought to the notice of the Government.

"During the period of suspension, Rath’s headquarter shall be Jammu and he will not leave it without obtaining permission of the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police.” The action against the officer came a fortnight after he lodged a complaint with police against Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh citing "apprehensions about my life, liberty and bald head." Promoted as IGP in 2018, Rath became popular among people for his effective regulation of traffic. However, his stint as IGP-Traffic was short-lived as many questioned his style of functioning.