New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a prosecution petition against Karnataka-cadre IPS officer Rupak Kumar Dutta for forging classroom attendance while pursuing LLB in 2009, noted that he was being targeted by the complainant.

Dutta serving as the special secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, is among the probables for the state top cop post.

The bench comprising of Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal stated that the complainant, who claimed to be a social worker, seemed to be after Dutta for some reasons.

In March 2015, a magisterial court had ordered registration of an FIR against Dutta and the management of Arunodaya Institute of Legal Studies, Bengaluru. The high court quashed order in September 2016.

Appearing on behalf of the complainant G Mallesh, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, moved the Supreme Court.“Can a police officer be allowed to forge his attendance and violate the law,” Dhawan asked.

Advocate for Dutta, Sanjay Nuli, argued that the complaint was being filed each time Dutta’s name was being considered for a key post. The first one was filed when he was being considered for the post of additional director of the CBI, he said. Now, he is in the race to be the DG&IGP of Karnataka.