Kollam: Ezhukone Police Inspector TS Shivaprakash has been fined Rs 25,000 for providing false information to the State Information Commission. He was also directed to notify the secretary of the Commission within 30 days of remitting the fine. The order also made it clear that if the officer failed to pay the fine, then the amount be deducted from his salary or his assets be confiscated.

The incident happened in 2014 when Shivaprakash was sub inspector in Punalur. The order was issued on the complaint of Ilambal native Muraleedharan Pillai. According to the complaint, the inspector failed to respond to an RTI query filed by him.

Following this, the commission asked Shivaprakash to submit a report. But he submitted incorrect information and reported that various cases existed against the complainant. But the police officer could not prove this before the commission.

The present order was issued as the inspector failed to prove his innocence. The Commission stated that the inspector offended the Commission and the RTI Act and therefore he should be given the maximum penalty.