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Move seeking transfer of Sumedh Saini – Chief Election officer yet to take call on report of Punjab Govt.
February 19, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
Chandigarh/ Punjab (February 19, 2014): While Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) VK Singh is still in the process of informing India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath on the fate of Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini after the former received a report from the Punjab government favouring his continuation as police chief during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also joined the issue, accusing Saini of being “a Badal loyalist”.
The CEO had sought reply from the Punjab home affairs department after Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira had demanded on February 4 that Saini should be removed from the post as a special CBI court of Delhi had framed charges against him for kidnapping and disappearance of three persons.
Sumedh Saini (R) with Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal (L) [File Photo]
As per media reports Sukhpal Khaira cited guidelines of the Election Commission that no officer against whom a criminal case is pending in any court of law could be associated with election duty or work.
According to a news published at YesPunjab.Com: “[s]ources said the principal secretary, home affairs and justice, DS Bains, on Monday sent a 60-page reply to the CEO, justifying that Saini should continue as the state police chief during the polls”.
Bains’ reply gave a detailed account of Saini’s role in fighting militancy in Punjab. It also said that Punjab had successfully and peacefully conducted two by-polls at Dasuya and Moga assembly segments after he was appointed as the DGP.
The reply also gave a reference of the Punjab and Haryana high court order pronounced on April 11 last year in which the petition challenging the appointment of Saini as the DGP was dismissed after observing that he was “legally competent” to hold the post.
“Sources said the office of the CEO, before sending its own opinion to the EC, was almost convinced that there was no watertight case against Saini’s removal before the Lok Sabha polls and most of the allegations being made against him were largely politically motivated” YesPunjab news report reads further.
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh added Saini was a known Akali loyalist and during the last assembly polls he had not only campaigned for the Akali Dal but also helped the party in mobilising and distributing money.
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Related Topics: Capt. Amarinder Singh, Lok Sabha Elections 2014, Sumedh Saini
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