Two senior women bureaucrats in Karnataka – IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri and IPS officer D Roopa – indulged in a public spat over the weekend after the latter made shocking allegations against the former.

Roopa, managing director of the Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation, took to her social media account and posted about several “wrongdoings” of Sindhuri, who is the Muzrai Department Commissioner. She accused the 2009-batch IAS officer of misconduct and posted personal pictures of Sindhuri alleging that it was shared by her with a few male officers.

The row between the top bureaucrats intensified on Monday after Roopa, an IPS officer of the year 2000 batch, accused Sindhuri of sharing “nude, naked pics” with the IAS officer saying she would take legal action amounting to misconduct and criminal offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Sindhuri responded to the allegation by saying Roopa was driving a “false, personal vilification campaign” and termed the allegations as baseless. She said Roopa is making such comments against her out of personal enmity, and was behaving as if she had lost her mental balance.

The two senior officers have also accused each other of violating the Civil Services Conduct rules, and that they had brought it to the notice of the appropriate authorities.

While retorting to a media statement issued by Sindhuri and order of action against both officials by Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Roopa again took to her handle and asked in a Facebook post whether she would talk about the “deleted naked pictures” and whether “the number it (the photos) was sent was not hers”.

“Can an IAS officer send nude, naked pics? What was the reason these pictures were sent? For a compromise? Or is it to prevent action against her in a case where allegations were proved in a preliminary inquiry? She should answer,” Roopa asked.

Earlier, Sindhuri while talking to reporters said the attack on her by Roopa was “not right”.

“This is not the forum. This is not the platform. Speaking like this is not right. (She) should bring it to the attention of the government. Indulging in such personal vilification is not right,” she added.

The IAS officer also said she would pursue all legal remedies against Roopa. “We will not let it go. She (Roopa) can speak about professional issues. But, if she speaks about personal issues I will take it very very strongly. We will take all action.”