Punjab top cop Bhawra goes on two-month leave
BHAWRA HAS ALREADY SHIFTED HIS PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE DGP OFFICE; THE MANN GOVT IS LIKELY TO APPOINT ACTING DGP ON MONDAY
CHANDIGARH : Two days after the Punjab government asked him to step down as the state’s top cop, director general of police (DGP) Viresh Kumar Bhawra on Friday applied for two-month leave.
Bhawra’s leave will start from July 5 (Tuesday), said people familiar with the development. He has shifted his personal belongings from the office of the DGP, Punjab, it is learnt.
The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi government has already forwarded Bhawra’s request for central deputation to the Union home ministry.
The director general of police is appointed for a period of minimum two years following the procedure laid down by the Supreme Court under which the state sends a panel of officers to Union Public Service Commission.
The central body sends back a panel of three officers and the state government is asked to pick one name for the top job.
Bhawra was appointed as Punjab DGP on January 8 by Charanjit Singh Channi-led Congress government just hours before the model code of conduct came into force for the February 20 assembly polls.
After assuming charge, the new AAP dispensation continued with Bhawra as he is considered a clean officer. However, as the law and order situation started deteriorating in the state, the opponents were quick to target the newly formed Mann government.
It is learnt that the AAP government was not satisfied with Bhawra’s handling of the current law and order crisis. Bhawra is schedule to superannuate on May 31, 2024.
However, there are several instances in other states where DGPS have been replaced before the completion of their tenure. In most of these cases, the DGPS had cited personal reasons to leave the charge after they were told to step down, say experts.
Bhawra’s wife Anjali Bhawra, an IAS, is already serving on central deputation.
It is learnt that Bhawra was asked to apply for leave to avoid any tussle, paving the way for the government to give this important charge to the officer of its choice.
Gaurav Yadav is front-runner for the job
The government is likely to give the charge of acting DGP to some senior officer on Monday.
The front-runners include special DGP administration Gaurav Yadav. A 1992-batch officer, Yadav is already working as special principal secretary to the chief minister. The AAP dispensation is believed to be quite satisfied with his style of functioning.
The government, however, could land in a Catch-22 situation as Yadav is not only junior to 1987-batch and now special DGP (Intelligence) Prabodh Kumar but also special DGP railways Sanjeev Kalra (1989 batch). Yadav is also junior to his batchmates Sharad Satya Chauhan and Harpreet Singh Sidhu. Chauhan and Sidhu are also in the race for the post of acting DGP.