CRPF begins inquiry against top officer who accused IPS of bias after being transferred

Cadre officers say the IG-rank officer had raised questions about transfers, and alleged there are different policies for CRPF and IPS.

Representational image | Central Reserve Police Force patrolling Hindpirhi, in Ranchi | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has initiated an inquiry against one of the eight senior cadre officers who were abruptly transferred last month for “non-compliance of orders” and raising several questions regarding “discriminatory” policies that favour IPS officers, ThePrint has learnt.

According to a letter from the CRPF Directorate, dated 26 May, a preliminary inquiry has to be concluded within a week to ascertain why the Inspector General-rank officer did not report to his new posting using the special aircraft provided by the CRPF to ferry him from Delhi. The inquiry, however, is still on.

Last month, ThePrint had reported how eight top CRPF officers were transferred with a surprise order, and asked to move out of their posts the next morning — a move which was called an “affront” to the senior cadre officers, dealt out by their IPS counterparts.

Sources in the CRPF said the IG-rank officer had asked for extra time before he could join his new posting because, due to the Covid-19 lockdown, he would have to be quarantined in the new city, and that he would be unable to help his ailing parents back in Delhi if there were to be an emergency.

The CRPF spokesperson M. Dinakaran told ThePrint that he was not aware of any inquiry proceedings.

Questions about IPS bias

A senior IPS officer in the force told ThePrint that the disciplinary inquiry against the CRPF officer was instituted on the valid grounds of non-compliance. “In the CRPF or any uniformed force, an officer is supposed to report to their new posting immediately… We do not have the luxury of time,” the officer said.

Inquiries against the said officer have been initiated on two fronts, said the senior IPS officer.

“One, since the officer failed to comply with the order to fly to his new posting in the special plane… It is true that the officer concerned had made a representation to the CRPF headquarters asking for time, but a representation cannot be considered a stay on his own transfer,” the officer said. “If everyone starts to not comply with transfer orders, there will be no order.

“Two, an inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the allegations he has levelled against the headquarters, which appear to be frivolous,” the IPS officer added.

“Nobody is blaming him, but an inquiry has been started to ascertain whether he has any grounds to make the allegations, or do they violate the (code of) conduct, since he is such a senior officer.”

However, what is learnt to have irked the paramilitary force brass is that the officer had asked a series of questions in writing, highlighting the alleged biases of the IPS leadership against the cadre officers.

According to sources in the force, the officer questioned the urgency to relieve senior officers of IG level overnight; if the CRPF follows any definite policy for transfer of IGs or if these transfers are made on the whims of the officers occupying positions of hierarchy. He also asked if any senior officer from the cadre was consulted on the propriety of the transfers, and why cadre officers of the CRPF are excluded from critical decision-making processes that can have an impact on the efficiency of the force.

The officer has also thrown light on several “differential” transfer policies adopted for CRPF and IPS officers, sources said.

A second senior IPS officer of the cadre confirmed that the CRPF officer had raised these issues.