Centre mulls action against IPS officers for joining dharna over CBI controversy

The Centre has taken a serious note of some senior IPS officers taking part in a political dharna in Kolkata earlier this week and has asked West Bengal government to initiate action against them. “The Central government has taken a dim view of serving officials taking part in a political protest in Kolkata and has asked West Bengal government to take action against them for violating the service conduct rules,” sources told ANI on Thursday.

The officials against whom the action has been sought by MHA include DGP Virendra, ADG Vineet Kumar Goyal, ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma, Commissioner of Bidhannagar city Gyanwant Singh and Additional Commission of Police Supritam Sarkar, sources said.

Sources said the MHA is also exploring the option of withdrawing medals or decorations conferred upon them in recognition of their meritorious services. They said the MHA is also contemplating not to call any of these four senior cops on Central deputation. “An advisory will also be issued to all states in this regard,” said sources.

In a communication to West Bengal’s Chief Secretary on February 5, the MHA had said that as per the information received by the ministry, Kumar joined a dharna along with some police officers with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Metro Channel in Kolkata, which is prima facie in contravention of the extant provisions of AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968/AIS (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969.

On Wednesday, MHA had asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for joining a ‘political dharna’ along with other police officers.

Chief Minister Banerjee, however, had justified the presence of cops on the dharna site, saying that they were there as per the protocol. An unusual situation had cropped up in Kolkata when a team of CBI reached the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar in a bid to question him in connection with the investigation in multi-crore chit-fund scam.

Chief Minister Banerjee ended her ‘Save the Constitution dharna’ on February 5, after the Supreme Court gave what she termed as a favourable judgement in favour of the state. The Supreme Court directed Kumar to appear before the CBI and “faithfully” cooperate into the investigation of cases arising out of Saradha chit fund scam while clarifying that he would not be subjected to any coercion.

(With inputs from agencies.)