Pb DGP search: UPSC seeks ‘status of pending cases’ against vigilance chief

Chandigarh: Before convening the empanelment committee meeting to shortlist three officers for the post of regular DGP of Punjab, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has asked Punjab govt to provide ‘present status of pending cases' against 1992-batch IPS officer Sharad Satya Chauhan, the director of Punjab Vigilance Bureau.Chauhan is the most senior among the 14 IPS officers who figure on the list sent by state govt to UPSC on April 6.The commission sought the details on Chauhan on May 15, four days after CBI dashed to Punjab Vigilance Bureau headquarters in Mohali on the night of May 11 in connection with an alleged bribery case in which Chauhan's reader, inspector O P Singh Rana, is one of the accused. While CBI has arrested three suspects, Rana is on the run.After the CBI operation, Chauhan had earlier told mediapersons that "private people" were arrested in the alleged bribery case, and assured that VB will "fully cooperate with CBI's investigations and whatever action they are taking."A source told TOI that while basic details of the pending cases against the officers were mentioned in the annexures sent to UPSC along with the govt list, UPSC has sought to know the ‘present status' and asked for ‘supporting documents' related to cases / complaints against Chauhan.In another query relating to IPS officer Kuldeep Singh — also of 1992-batch and on the panel of 14 sent by govt — UPSC has sought to know why he has taken half-pay leave from Feb 23 to Oct 16. Singh is currently posted as Special DGP, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), and his superannuation date is Dec 31 this year. As per norms, any officer appointed DGP has a minimum tenure of two years, regardless of retirement date.After receiving the queries, Punjab home department has written to the office of Punjab DGP to provide details sought by UPSC.