Punjab government not willing to send back Virk

Chandigarh, Apr 12 (UNI) The Punjab government has no plans to revert suspended Director General of Police (DGP) S S Virk to his parent cadre of Maharashtra.

The Union Home Ministry had yesterday ordered Mr Virk's ''premature repatriation'' to his parent cadre. The DGP, whose deputation period expires on May 31 this year, was placed under suspension by the SAD-BJP government on the charge of purchasing land in violation of service rules.

Mr Virk, an IPS officer of the 1970 batch of the Maharashtra cadre, was suspended by the Punjab government on April 4, after a police probe linked him to a land deal worth crores in which a war widow was allegedly duped by property agents.

Making the state government's intention clear, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said Mr Virk had been suspended in accordance with the service rules and the Centre was informed of it.

''Mr Virk is under suspension and his going back (to his parent cadre) will hamper investigations in the case, '' Mr Badal told mediapersons here. The Chief Minister indicated that he had already written to the Union Home Ministry on the state government's intentions.

Asked whether the government was contemplating slapping another case against Mr Virk, the Chief Minister said, ''I cannot say, as i am not the investigating authority.'' He however made it clear that the law would take its course against ''anyone who has done wrong''.

Mr Badal also hinted that the government could take the legal course in case the Centre persisted with its orders on the former police chief.

The Union Home Ministry orders came two days after Mr Badal had a meeting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi.

Mr Virk, known to be close to former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, was removed as state police chief under the directions of the Election Commission in January this year, ahead of the Assembly polls, citing concerns regarding his ''credibility and perceived neutrality'' during the elections.

He was then appointed Chief Managing Director of Punjab Police Housing Corporation and subsequently he was placed under suspension after the registration of the case against him.

Main Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which came to power in alliance with the BJP after the February 13 elections, had repeatedly accused Mr Virk of ''favouring'' the then ruling Congress.

UNI