IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary reinstated

Jaipur: The Union home ministry on Wednesday night reinstated IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary, whose dismissal was earlier revoked by Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), according to order issued by the ministry.
The controversial 2009-batch IPS officer was dismissed from service in February 2019 on charges of ‘grave personal misconduct’, that he had got in a relationship with another woman without legally separating from his wife.Chaudhary had challenged his dismissal from service at CAT in Jodhpur which was later transferred to the principal bench in Delhi.
“...And whereas, the matter was examined further by the competent authority in light of the tribunal’s order dated December 10, 2020, Hon’ble High Court of Delhi order dated March 19, 2021, Hon’ble Supreme Court dated May 7, 2021 and after considering all the aspects related to the imposing of the penalty of ‘dismissal from service’ on Pankaj Choudhary and the observations/directions made by the Hon’ble tribunal in the case, the competent authority has come to the conclusion that Choudhary be reinstated in compliance of the orders of the tribunal,” read the ministry of home affairs order issued on May 12.
“The competent authority decided that Pankaj Choudhary, IPS (RJ:2009) be reinstated in service with immediate effect. This will, however, be without prejudice to the disciplinary proceedings against him under the relevant rules for his acts of misconduct for which he was dismissed from service. It is ordered accordingly,” it added.
“As per order issued by ministry of home affairs, government of India, Pankaj Choudhury rejoined Indian police service at 10.15pm from May 12,” she wrote on Facebook.