DGP Sumedh Saini row: Badal government ready with face-saver, says media report

Chandigarh/ Punjab (February 21, 2014): As per certain reports the Punjab Government has quietly chalked a way out of the controversy surrounding Punjab DGP Sumedh Saini, whose transfer has been demanded by the opposition Congress party.

The state government is reportedly concerned that once the model code of conduct comes into force, the Election Commission (EC) will recommend a DGP of its own choice, so it is going to ask Sumedh Saini to proceed on leave.

As per a news published in The Tribune “Punjab state Home Department sources told The Tribune that a state government delegation was in Delhi to meet the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and apprise him of the complaint against Saini. However, in case the CEC does not agree with it, the state government is ready with a list of contenders for the DGP post till the time Saini will remain on leave”.

According to The Tribune (TT) the main contenders for the post are GD Panday, a 1981-batch IPS officer, and Punjab DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Suresh Arora, who is a 1982-batch IPS officer.

“Sources said in terms of seniority, 1982-batch officer Sanjiv Gupta was also in the consideration zone, but if left to the state government, the incumbent to be selected to fill the post would either be Panday or Arora” TT report read further.

It may be recalled that the controversy involving the DGP arose after Punjab Pradesh Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira complained to the state Chief Electoral Officer seeking Sumedh Saini’s removal on the grounds that he had been chargesheeted in a criminal case.

It is notable that a CBI court in Delhi had chargesheeted DGP Sumedh Saini for kidnapping, abduction and disappearance of three persons belonging to a business family from Ludhiana.

The charges were framed against Saini in November 2006, after the Punjab and Haryana High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI.

Few days back senior Congress leaders had also met the Chief Election Commissioner seeking Sumedh Saini’s removal.

In its reply to the CEO, the Punjab Government had declined to remove Sumedh Saini saying two elections had already been held successfully since his appointment as the DGP.

Sumedh Saini’s appointment as DGP was challenged by an NGO named Voices For Freedom but the Punjab and Haryana High Court had upheld his appointment.