CRPF issues show-cause notices to eight officers for declining working lunch

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sent show-cause notices to eight Assistant Commandant-rank officers, including one woman, for reportedly refusing to attend an official working lunch hosted by a senior officer during a training program, according to official sources. The officers were part of a group taking a technical course at a CRPF camp in Madhya Pradesh about a month ago. Sources said the zonal head, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, invited them to a working lunch. The officers did not attend, and the force has called this insubordination.

An internal communication shared with the media said the trainee officers were attending the Gazetted Officers’ technical course. Amit Kumar, IPS, Special Director General, Central Zone, hosted the lunch at the GO’s Mess. The first show-cause notice was sent on June 30, 2026, asking the officers to explain their actions within three days.

More than a month later, the units involved had not replied. Force headquarters then sent a follow-up marked “Most Urgent,” telling the units to ensure the officers submit their explanations immediately. The message warned that if they did not respond, it would be considered as having “nothing to state in their defence,” and action could be taken without their input.

Official sources said the case is being treated as insubordination. A senior CRPF officer said more disciplinary action may follow after the officers submit their explanations and the force reviews them.

The reasons why the officers declined to attend the lunch have not been specified. CRPF headquarters has not made a public statement on the matter and has not responded to requests for comment.

Assistant Commandants are the entry-level gazetted officer rank in the CRPF. The force, which is the country’s largest central armed police organisation, regularly holds technical and professional courses for its officers at different training centres.

Force headquarters have sent out the notices, and units have been told to collect the officers’ replies as soon as possible. What happens next will depend on the explanations provided and the review by the proper authority. Sources said the Special Director General was unhappy that the officers missed the lunch, which led to the show-cause process. No other details about earlier interactions between the officers and the senior officer have been shared.