Father of suspended IPS officer Pavan Nejjuru denies suicide attempt rumours after Ballari riots

Tumakuru: The controversy surrounding the suspension of Ballari Superintendent of Police Pavan Nejjuru has taken a significant turn, with his father strongly denying reports that the IPS officer attempted suicide following his suspension.

Pavan Nejjuru, a 2016-batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer, was suspended after being accused of failing to effectively handle the recent banner-related unrest in Ballari. He had taken charge as Ballari SP barely 24 hours before the incident.

Soon after his suspension, rumours began circulating that he had attempted suicide, triggering widespread concern and speculation.

Addressing these reports, Pavan Nejjuru’s father, Uday Shankar Nejjuru, issued a detailed clarification through a social media post, terming the suicide attempt claims as “completely false and baseless”.

“As a father, I want to place certain facts on record. My son has not attempted suicide under any circumstances,” Uday Shankar Nejjuru stated. He emphasised that Pavan Nejjuru is a disciplined and efficient officer who has always worked with commitment to law, order and institutional discipline within the Karnataka Police Department.

He expressed anguish over what he described as “false rumours” being spread in the aftermath of the Ballari riots. Clarifying the sequence of events, he said Pavan Nejjuru assumed charge on January 1, met senior officers as per protocol, attended a farewell programme organised by Lokayukta police personnel with whom he had served for nearly a decade, and rushed to the riot spot immediately after learning about the incident.

“He responded promptly to the situation and worked through the night to manage law and order, including making security arrangements during the funeral of the deceased,” his father said.

Uday Shankar Nejjuru acknowledged that his son was deeply shocked and distressed by the sudden and unexpected developments, including the suspension that followed within hours of assuming charge. “Yes, he is emotionally affected and disturbed by the turn of events, but that does not mean he attempted suicide. Such claims are imaginary and harmful,” he asserted.

He further said the spread of such rumours has caused immense pain to the family and raised concerns about his son’s dignity, mental well-being and professional future. Appealing for restraint, he urged the public and media not to circulate unverified information.

Concluding his statement, Uday Shankar Nejjuru requested the government to review the suspension order, stating that his son had faithfully complied with government directives and deserved a fair reassessment of the action taken against him.

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