Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 25
The government today appointed Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, Special DGP, Armed Battalion, as the officiating head of the state police force, relieving DGP Dinkar Gupta of the charge.
The government will wait for the UPSC approval for posting Sahota as the regular DGP. Gupta, who had two years and seven months’ tenure as the state police chief, has also sought permission for a central deputation. The government has approved his application for one-month leave, but the permission for central deputation was awaited. Gupta was already empanelled to hold Director General’s post at the Centre last year.
Will fight drugs
I will continue to work for the betterment of the department. Further strengthening the fight against drugs and keeping vigil on bad elements, besides maintaining law and order, are among my top priorities. —Iqbal Preet Sahota
Sahota, a 1988-batch IPS officer, is currently holding the charge of the Special DGP (Armed Police, Jalandhar). According to the order, Sahota has been “given the additional charge of the DGP in addition to his own duties during Gupta’s leave period”.
Sahota, being the Director, Bureau of Investigation, was the head of a special investigation team formed in 2015 by then Akali government to probe sacrilege incidents.
Then Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, accompanied by then DGP Sumedh Saini and Sahota, had announced that the probe had led to the arrest of two youths who received funds from abroad to carry out the protests, which had also led to police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura.
However, the claims proved false within a month and the youths had to be freed. Due to the backlash, the Akalis replaced DGP Saini with Suresh Arora and Prabodh Kumar replaced Sahota.
Sahota has superseded six officers. He was in contention for the post with 1986-batch IPS officer Sidharth Chattopadhyaya and 1987-batch officer VK Bhawra.
Sources said Sidhu was pushing for Chattopadhyaya, while Channi was rooting for Sahota. Both Channi and Sahota belong to the reserved category. Channi seems to have had the final say. Sources said Chattopadhyaya’s case fell after the Congress top brass sought legal advice. He was among the officers empanelled for the DGP’s post when Gupta was chosen. Senior SC lawyers advised against appointing him.
SIT head who first probed sacrilege cases now officiating Punjab DGP
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