In a late-night move, the Punjab government replaced IPS Sahota with Sidharth Chattopadhyaya as officiating director general of police. This comes days after ADGP SK Asthana's leaked letter on the drug case brought major embarrassment to the Charanjit Channi government.
Meanwhile, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has scheduled an empanelment committee meeting on December 21 to begin the process of choosing the State's new Director General
of Police.
The news comes as a surprise because Sahota is close to Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and has remained in his position despite efforts from Punjab Pradesh
Congress Committee chief
Navjot Sidhu to oust him. Notably, Navjot Sidhu from the very beginning was advocating for Chattopadhyaya to be appointed to the top post.
Chattopadhyaya, an IPS officer from the 1986 batch, will continue to hold the position of chief director, vigilance bureau and Sahota will continue in his role as DGP, PAP, Jalandhar.
Why was IPS Sahota removed?
The appointment of a regular DGP has remained a touchy subject in the poll-bound state of Punjab. Sidhu who is constantly seen criticising his own government was disgruntled with Sahota's
appointment and questioned his actions in handling cases involving the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and related police firings in 2015.
The allegations have been denied by Sahota.
However, following the Asthana letter leak incident, the Channi government was allegedly dissatisfied with the DGP, both for the leak and the hesitation of his staff to act in critical cases.
According to officials with knowledge of the situation, Sahota was removed by the state government due to his inability to “follow some orders which the government wants him to execute
under pressure from the certain political quarters.”
In addition, the decision to replace Sahota as acting DGP coincides with launch of an indefinite protest on Thursday by Sukhraj Singh, son of Bhagwan Krishan Singh, who was among the two
killed in police firing on anti-sacrilege protestors on October 14, 2015, at Behbal Kalan in Faridkot district.
Why Chattopadhyaya?
After the removal of Captain Amarinder Singh from the top post, Charanjit Singh Channi was made the Chief Minister of Punjab. Following this, Congress is under immense pressure to justify
the change in guard by finally acting on major issues like drug menace, STF report of drug case and sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.
However, some officials were unable to follow particular orders by the Channi government and ADGP’s letter leak, at the same time, brought major embarrassment to ruling Congress, aforementioned.
1986 batch IPS S. Chattopadhyaya, who is said to be an upright and audacious officer, now remains the last hope for Channi government. Chattopadhyaya has played a major role in the SIT’s
devised to counter the drug menace in the state.
Sources claim that he holds the capacity to fulfil Sidhu’s promises of bringing the Badal family to justice in sacrilege cases and other issues.
By appointing Chattopadhyaya as officiating DGP, the state government is likely to take major actions against “big fishes” of drug and sacrilege cases.
In the upcoming days, before UPSC names 3 IPS officers to the top post, Chattopadhaya can make big decisions, which people of Punjab awaited for years. Further, it is anticipated that some
Akali Dal leaders and state bureaucrats could get arrested in connection to the drug haul.