Rohini Sindhuri Dasari

Summary

Rohini Sindhuri, a 2009-batch Karnataka IAS officer, has no published career transfer count but several contested moves. In 2018 she was transferred from Hassan after locking a Congress minister's office under the poll code; the CAT upheld the move, but the government undertook in the High Court to reinstate her. In 2021 she left Mysuru amid a feud with another IAS officer and a JD(S) MLA's complaint about a pool at her residence, which a Regional Commissioner found lacked heritage permission; her own complaints about land linked to the MLA have no reported outcome. Governments gave no reasons for these moves.

1. 2015One report

   CEO, Mandya Zilla Panchayat

   Shunted out after 14 months, two or three months short of declaring the district open-defecation-free.

   Reported reason

   Her account to TNM: a senior later told her influential people wanted government funds approved for facilities they ran, and she had refused. No one is named.

   The officer said

   Her account to TNM (see reported_reason).

   The other side said

   None found.

   The News Minute, Jun 2018

2. 3 years with no move on record here.

3. Mar 2018Documented

   Deputy Commissioner, HassanCommissioner, Employment & Training

   Seven months into the Hassan posting, Sindhuri curbed sand mining (her contention) and, as district election officer, had the Inspection Bungalow office of district in-charge minister A. Manju locked for violating the model code of conduct, sending him a notice. She was transferred on 7 March 2018. The Election Commission stalled the first order, but a second order followed.

   Up against

   A. Manju, Minister and Hassan district in-charge minister, Indian National Congress Government: Congress (Siddaramaiah, CM).

   Reported reason

   In her petition she alleged she was moved prematurely 'at the behest of then CM Siddaramaiah who allegedly heeded to the pressure of local leaders' (NIE). NIE also describes friction with the Deve Gowda family in Hassan.

   The officer said

   She said political pressure was the reason for her premature transfer (TOI, paraphrase).

   The other side said

   No reason given for the transfer. Before the High Court, Additional Advocate General A. S. Ponnanna undertook that 'she will be transferred again as Hassan DC'.

   Outcome

   The CAT's Bengaluru bench upheld the transfer on 17 April 2018. On 25 June 2018 a Karnataka High Court division bench (Justices H. G. Ramesh and Mohammad Nawaz) set aside the CAT judgment and disposed of her petition on the state's undertaking; she was reinstated within hours, replacing P. C. Jaffer.

   • Judgment Sindhuri's writ petition (case title not verified), Karnataka High Court division bench (Justices H. G. Ramesh and Mohammad Nawaz), disposing of challenge to CAT order on the state's undertaking (as reported; order text not located), Jun 2018

     (as reported) Additional Advocate General: she will be transferred again as Hassan DC

   The New Indian Express, Jun 2018 · The Times of India, Mar 2018 · The Times of India, Apr 2018

4. 3 years with no move on record here.

5. Jun 2021Documented

   Deputy Commissioner, MysuruCommissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments

   As DC, Sindhuri asked the Regional Commissioner to inquire into alleged irregularities in land linked to JD(S) MLA Sa Ra Mahesh, including a choultry on what she said was gomala (grazing) land and a resort approval near Lingambudhi lake. Mahesh had for two months accused her of building a pool and gym at the DC's heritage residence, and the state ordered an inquiry on 31 May. Separately, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Shilpa Nag announced her resignation, alleging harassment by Sindhuri, which Sindhuri denied. Both officers were moved out of Mysuru on 5 June 2021.

   Up against

   Sa Ra Mahesh, JD(S) MLA and former minister, Janata Dal (Secular) Government: BJP (B. S. Yediyurappa, CM).

   Reported reason

   Reports describe the transfers as made amid the feud between the two IAS officers; no source found links them to the land complaints.

   The officer said

   On the pool inquiry: 'I wish the same detail and comprehensiveness was shown in enquiry into irregularities on land by powerful politicians. Enquiry on land irregularities was restricted to single point at behest of persons accused of land irregularities.' She called Nag's charges 'contrary to real facts'.

   The other side said

   Mahesh alleged misuse of power over the pool and gym. Nag: 'There is no conducive environment to work in Mysuru.' The government gave no stated reason for the transfers.

   Outcome

   The Regional Commissioner's report found no heritage permission or prior administrative sanction for the pool and gym.

   What became of the matter

   Unknown. What became of her complaints about land linked to Sa Ra Mahesh was not found; she said the inquiry was "restricted to single point". The News Minute, Jun 2021

   • Report Report of Mysuru Regional Commissioner G. C. Prakash on the pool and gym at the DC residence (Jala Sannidhi), as quoted by TNM, Jun 2021

     No letter or permission has been received from the Commissioner of Archaeology and Heritage Department, Mysore for the construction of swimming pool and gym at the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner.

   The Indian Express, Jun 2021 · The News Minute, Jun 2021 · Deccan Herald, Jun 2021 · The News Minute, Jun 2021

6. Feb 2023Documented

   Commissioner, Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments(no posting)

   Transferred without a posting along with IPS officer D. Roopa after Roopa publicly made 19 allegations against her, which she denied. She filed a criminal defamation complaint against Roopa (C.C. No. 7870/2023), which was pending in 2026.

   Up against

   D. Roopa Moudgil, IPS officer (MD, Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation), Karnataka Police Government: BJP (Basavaraj Bommai, CM).

   The officer said

   She denied the allegations and called them a personal vilification campaign (IE).

   The other side said

   No official reason given.

   The Indian Express, Feb 2023 · The Indian Express, Mar 2023 · Supreme Court of India, via Indian Kanoon, May 2026