Preparing to change DGP in Punjab: Dinkar Gupta asked for a month’s leave, the government may impose a new acting Director General of Police on the Bengal formula

Dinkar Gupta was close to former CM Captain Amarinder Singh, due to which he was appointed DGP despite protests. – file photo

After the removal of Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan in Punjab, her husband Dinkar Gupta is also preparing to be removed from the post of DGP. However, at present the new Charanjit Channi government of Punjab has not been able to take any decision. Amidst the ongoing discussions, the current DGP Dinkar Gupta has asked the government for a month’s leave. His application has reached the CM office. However, it was not approved due to the frequent visits of CM Channi to Delhi. At present, the home department of the state is with him.

In view of this, now the Punjab government can impose a new Director General of Police (DGP) on the Bengal formula. The Bengal government had appointed Madan Malviya as the acting DGP. However, there this decision was taken before the name was cleared by UPSC. The Punjab government has not yet sent any panel regarding the new DGP. Still, it will become necessary to pay the charge after Dinkar Gupta goes on leave. The charge can be given only to whom the government wants to put DGP further.

It is necessary to send name to the panel

Earlier, the Punjab government was taking legal opinion on whether he could himself be a DGP. There is a possibility that UPSC may not have to send names. However, now it is learned that the panel will have to be sent through the procedure made by the Supreme Court. For this reason, now that officer can be given charge, who is the strongest contender to be shortlisted in the panel.

Preparations were made to give charge to Chattopadhyay, stopped due to the intervention of the high command

If sources are to be believed, then 1986 batch IPS officer Siddharth Chattopadhyay was being posted as DGP after Charanjit Channi was sworn in as the new CM. He had also met the CM in this regard. However, then the whole matter reached the Congress high command. It was stopped after the intervention of the high command. After this, now many groups have started lobbying within the Congress for the installation of DGP.

4 officers in the race for new DGP

After the removal of Dinkar Gupta, 4 officers are involved in the race for the new DGP of Punjab. These include Siddharth Chattopadhyay, Iqbalpreet Singh Sahota, VK Bhavra and Rohit Chaudhary. At present, Chattopadhyay and Sahota are being considered as strong contenders. Bhavra’s name is also being told in full discussion.