Dadwal refuses to join issue with Bedi

NEW DELHI: YS Dadwal, who took over as Delhi's new police Commissioner, on Thursday sought to steer clear of the controversy triggered by senior IPS officer Kiran Bedi over his appointment.

"I have the highest regards for her. She is our senior colleague and everyone in the force has regards for her," Dadwal said when asked about Bedi's outbursts on Wednesday after he pipped her to the post of the police chief.

He also parried a question on what prompted the Union Home Ministry to prefer him over the Magsaysay award winning officer, saying 'you should address this question to the government.'

Dadwal's appointment had irked Bedi, the country's first woman IPS officer, prompting her to proceed on three months' leave after openly showing her displeasure by terming it 'blatantly unfair'.