A new chapter in Punjab’s governance is unfolding — one that could redefine the state’s fight against corruption. Just days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal held a high-stakes meeting with Punjab MLAs in New Delhi, the State Government on Monday cracked down on corruption with an iron fist. In a dramatic reshuffle, Punjab’s top anti-corruption officer, Chief Director of the state Vigilance Bureau Varinder Kumar, has been removed from his post reportedly over his “inaction” against corruption; while Sri Muktsar Sahib Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajesh Tripathi has been suspended on corruption charges.
The action, executed with surgical precision, is being seen as a direct fallout of concerns raised by AAP legislators, who reportedly flagged inefficiencies in the anti-corruption drive and the presence of a “parallel system” within the Vigilance Bureau.
The government has now appointed Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) G Nageswara Rao as the new chief of the state Vigilance Bureau, hoping to inject fresh energy into investigations that had allegedly stalled under Kumar’s leadership. With these bold steps, the Bhagwant Mann Government has sent a clear message — corruption will not be tolerated, and no official is above scrutiny.
The recent crackdown stemmed from a crucial meeting held in Delhi – following AAP’s resounding defeat in assembly polls – where AAP’s Punjab MLAs, along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, all Cabinet Ministers, met with Kejriwal and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak. Following AAP’s underwhelming performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, Punjab’s legislators reportedly voiced concerns about governance issues back home. Many pointed to the lack of action against corrupt officials, warning that inaction could cost the party its credibility ahead of future elections.
One of the most significant revelations from the meeting was the alleged failure of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to take decisive action in high-profile corruption cases. Sources indicated that multiple MLAs accused some junior officials in the Bureau of misusing their authority, delaying investigations, and creating bureaucratic hurdles instead of aggressively pursuing corruption cases, especially against higher-ups. Some even alleged that a parallel system was being run by certain officers, independently issuing notices and making decisions without accountability.
Vigilance Chief Removed, Muktsar DC Suspended
In a swift move, the Punjab Government replaced Special DGP Varinder Kumar as the chief director of Vigilance Bureau — a post that carries immense significance in the state’s anti-corruption efforts. Kumar has been asked to report to the DGP's office; and so far, he has not been assigned any new posting.
Simultaneously, the Government cracked down on district-level corruption, suspending Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi on charges of graft. A 2015-batch IAS officer Abhijit Kaplish has been appointed as his replacement.
Sources suggested that MLAs from Muktsar and surrounding regions had repeatedly complained about Tripathi’s alleged corrupt practices, prompting an internal inquiry. The Vigilance Bureau has now been directed to conduct a full-fledged probe into his dealings, and insiders claimed that more officials could face action in the coming days.
It is believed that this is just the beginning of a larger shake-up in Punjab’s bureaucracy. The Mann Government, keen to deliver on its anti-corruption promises especially after the Delhi poll debacle, is likely to take further action against ‘tainted’ officers in the coming weeks.
Orders to DCs, SSPs, and SHOs: No Corruption, No Excuses
The bureaucratic reshuffle is just one part of a larger anti-corruption strategy unveiled by the Punjab government. Only past week on Friday, the state Personnel Department had issued strict directives to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Station House Officers (SHOs), and other key officials in the districts, warning them against any tolerance for corruption. As per the order, all officials will be held personally accountable for any act of corruption occurring within their jurisdiction. The Government has also introduced a new mechanism wherein feedback about officers will be taken directly from the public, as well as from the MPs and MLAs. Based on this feedback, officers will either be rewarded for their integrity or punished for their inefficiency and corruption. The ruling party, through message, subtly indicated that the transfer and suspension were a direct consequence of these newly-issued directives.
VB Chief Replaced
While the official reason for 1993-batch IPS officer Varinder Kumar’s removal has not been explicitly stated, the government insiders informed The Pioneer that his inability to ensure convictions in key corruption cases, especially related to Congress leaders, was a major factor. Due to retire later this year, Kumar had been at the helm of the Vigilance Bureau since May 2022, and oversaw investigations into several scandals from the previous Congress government, including the Tender Scam involving former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu; Industrial Plot Scam involving former Minister Sunder Sham Arora; Forest Scam involving former Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. However, despite high-profile arrests, some of the key accused, including Ashu and Arora, managed to secure legal relief. Their acquittals raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the Vigilance Bureau under Kumar’s leadership. Some within AAP believed that a fresh approach was needed to ensure that corruption cases were handled with more rigour, and the guilty were brought to justice.
DC Removed and Suspended
Taking swift action against corruption, the Government removed Sri Muktsar Sahib Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi, a 2016-batch IAS officer, placing him under suspension following “serious complaints of corruption” against him. A Vigilance enquiry has also been marked against him. Government spokesperson said that in consonance with the government’s instructions regarding taking feedback from public, MPs, and MLAs which will automatically lead to rewards and punishments for the officers, the action has been taken against the DC. “The State Government had received serious complaints of corruption against the Deputy Commissioner after which a thorough enquiry was conducted against the officer. Based on the preliminary enquiry, the State Government has suspended the Deputy Commissioner Sri Muktsar Sahib with immediate effect,” said the spokesperson.
Rao is New Vigilance Chief
The Government has posted a 1995-batch IPS officer G Nageswara Rao as the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau. He was currently serving as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Provisioning. As per government statement, Rao has served in various significant positions, including Vigilance Bureau director from April 27, 2017, to July 22, 2019. A distinguished Civil Engineering graduate with a first division with distinction, Rao has been honoured with several prestigious awards. He was awarded the United Nations Medal for his service as a CIVPOL officer in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2004. He also received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2011 during his deputation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the occasion of Republic Day, and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2023, also on the occasion of Republic Day.
