Male cop dressed as woman is probe target



LUCKNOW, India (AP) -- A male police officer who appeared on television in a yellow dress with dark red lipstick and matching nail polish could lose his job, officials said.
State officials ordered a probe into the behavior of Devendra Kumar Panda, an inspector general in the Uttar Pradesh state police, authorities said last week.
Panda, 57, who believes himself to be the reincarnation of a lady consort of the Hindu amorous god Krishna, contends he is merely exercising his freedom of religion. But his wife, who is suing him, says he is no woman at heart -- just a womanizer.
"He is normal at home or when he is chatting on the Internet. He behaves [this way] to get into the company of other women, whom he calls friends," his wife, Veena, told The Associated Press.
Panda's cross-dressing came to his superiors' attention after he appeared in court Saturday in full drag and gave interviews to several local TV channels.
A local court ordered Panda last Saturday to pay his wife $155 a month in support after he forced her to move out of their home.
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