Confusion of sorts persists over the name of Punjab’s new state police chief.
A day after reports of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sending the names of three IPS officers —Samant Kumar Goel, Mohammad Mustafa, and Dinkar Gupta—to the Punjab Government to choose its next Director General of Police (DGP), another list of officers was doing the rounds since Tuesday morning even as the State Government and the Police Department refused to receive any such list from the UPSC as yet.
Media Adviser to the Chief Minister, Raveen Thukral, categorically denied that the UPSC has sent any panel for selecting the State DGP to the Government. “The State Government hasn’t received any panel yet from the UPSC. So, there is no question of finalisation of any name. The State Government will consider the panel sent by UPSC on its receipt, and then take a call on the appointment of the next DGP as per the directions of the Apex Court,” said Thukral.
Similar contention was made by a senior police official, who did not wish to be named.
Available information suggests that the panel of three officers— Goel, Mustafa and Gupta—was discussed and prepared in the Monday’s meeting between the UPSC officials and Punjab DGP Suresh Arora, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh.
But, on late Monday night, another list of three officers—Dinkar Gupta, MK Tiwari, and VK Bhawra—also surfaced.
It has been learnt that Goel, who is currently on central deputation, did not wish to return to the State cadre as he was eyeing the RAW chief's post, while the chief of Special Task Force (STF) on drugs Mustafa may not be elevated to the top post considering his wife being the Cabinet Minister in the State.
It is believed that the Government would not like to attract any controversy by appointing Mustafa as State police chief with elections approaching as any political party may raise objection to the same.
However, it is believed that with the name of DGP (Intelligence) Dinkar Gupta being common in both the lists, he may be tipped to be the State DGP. Notably, Gupta is also shares proximity with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.