Complaint Filed Over IPS Promotions Amid Model Code of Conduct in Haryana

Chandigarh: Inspector General of Police (Telecommunications) Y Puran Kumar has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad, challenging the conduct of a screening committee meeting scheduled for September 12. The meeting is to consider the promotion of two Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs) to Director General of Police (DGP) and four Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) to ADGPs, despite the enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) in Haryana.

Kumar alleged that the office of the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) illegally approved the creation of two temporary DGP posts and four ADGP posts on September 3, facilitating the promotion of officers from the 1992 and 1998 batches. He claims these promotions were proposed and accepted by Anurag Rastogi, who manages both the Finance and Home Departments, to provide undue benefits to select Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.

According to Kumar, the creation of these temporary posts violates the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines, raising concerns about the inflated number of senior officers, with seven DGPs and 15 ADGPs if the promotions proceed. He also raised concerns about two IGPs, Vikas Arora and Rajender Kumar, who have jurisdiction over 17 Assembly constituencies and could allegedly influence the electoral process.

Kumar urged the Chief Secretary to investigate the promotions during the MCC period. Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Aggarwal confirmed that the complaint is being reviewed.