MUMBAI: The New Year perhaps does not augur well for the Maharashtra government and the state police, with the state’s senior most Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Director General of Police (Housing) S.S. Virk, seems to be sailing through hot waters.
According to media reports from Chandigarh, the Punjab government has decided to file a new charge sheet against Virk for unethical political activities and funding of elections.
Virk, a 1970 batch officer of Maharashtra cadre, and three other senior IPS officers were superseded by Anami Narayan Roy, a 1974 batch officer for the coveted post of the state director general of police in June 2008. Virk, an experienced police officer known for eliminating militancy from Punjab and a highly decorated officer with country’s highest Padma Shri award to his credit, had been in trouble after the change of government in Punjab and the Akali government baying for blood. Unfortunately, the state government failed to utilize his expertise in handling terrorism during the November terror attacks in Mumbai.
The Punjab government will issue the charge sheet through the Maharashtra government within a couple of days on the directions of the federal Ministry of Home Affairs, according to sources. The charge sheet against Virk will be sent to the home secretary of Maharashtra.
The Punjab government received a letter from the Home Ministry stating that as Virk is alleged to have committed acts of omission while he was on deputation with the Punjab government and was the director general of police there, it was for the Punjab government to investigate the misconducts and initiate disciplinary proceeding against him.
According to the contents of the charge sheet, it was mentioned that Virk has repeatedly lied and concealed information in his annual property returns, misused his official position, constructed and managed an “illegal” resort, opened bank accounts in assumed names, indulged in unethical political activities and funded elections and prepared false medical certificates. The charge sheet further stated that Virk has not maintained integrity and devotion to duty and has done a series of misconducts which is unbecoming of a member of the All-India Services and is therefore guilty under rule 7(1)(b)(i) of the All-India Service Disciplinary and Appeal Rules 1969.
The Punjab government has already registered two cases against Virk with one pertaining to grabbing of land of a martyr’s widow and another under Prevention of Corruption Act for amassing disproportionate assets beyond his known sources of income. The Maharashtra government is now on a sticky wicket on the Virk issue. A senior IPS official said that it would be very embarrassing for the Maharashtra government if Virk, a serving officer, is arrested by the Punjab police.
