Chandigarh, February 18 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): A major police reshuffle is imminent in Punjab, fueled by the heightened political climate following the AAP government’s defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections.
In the power struggle within the AAP leadership, control over the state police is often seen as a key indicator of who holds the reins of power.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s first significant move after the Delhi election loss was to issue a warning to police chiefs across the commissionerates and districts, urging them to improve performance or face consequences.
In a meeting with senior police officials following the February 8 Delhi poll results, Mann highlighted concerns over “false” FIRs being filed in some districts. Sources indicate that several AAP MLAs have raised complaints about police misconduct leading to these FIRs.
The issue of false FIRs is not new and has been a recurring problem, often tied to the ruling party. Between 2003 and 2017, both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) allegedly “misused” the police to file FIRs against each other, resulting in thousands of FIRs being lodged against party leaders and workers. This even prompted PM Dr. Manmohan Singh to intervene at one point to ease tensions.
When Capt Amarinder Singh became CM in 2017, he established a Commission to investigate false FIRs, recommend action, and offer compensation. Sources suggest that district police chiefs are now on high alert for corruption complaints, following the CM’s warning that police officials will be held accountable for their actions.
Faridkot police were the first to take action against corruption, booking a Station House Officer (SHO) for extorting money under false accusations against a scrap dealer.
Sources also mentioned that AAP MLAs have been expressing frustration with certain district police officials, accusing them of showing disrespect and disregarding petitioners sent by the MLAs. The MLAs have made it clear that they want more influence over postings and have communicated this demand to Delhi leadership. With the recent transfer of DGP Vigilance Varinder Kumar on Monday, sources suggest that a police reshuffle is on the horizon. The last major reshuffle, which involved the transfer of 14 SSPs, occurred in August 2024, following the Lok Sabha elections.
Summary: Following Punjab’s loss in Delhi, CM Mann takes action against the police, with a reshuffle likely after the fake FIRs issue.