Punjab govt protests Virk's repatriation

Chandigarh, May 7 (UNI) The Punjab government has lodged a protest with the Union Home Ministry for allowing former state DGP S S Virk to join his parent cadre, Maharashtra.

The Home Ministry should not have allowed Mr Virk to join duty as he was under suspension, pending inquiry, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said in an informal chat with mediapersons here today.

He said that the state government had already written to the Home Ministry in this regard.

Asked whether the state government would legal action against Mr Virk, the Chief Minister said that all options were open. ''The government would consider all the aspects before taking any legal recourse'', he said.

The Punjab government had 'suspended' Mr Virk following registration of a fraud case against him. Thereafter the government had asked the Home Ministry not to repatriate Mr Virk on the ground that his presence was needed in the case.

However, the Home Ministry allegedly ignored the state governments contention and repatriated the 'suspended' DGP, who was reportedly close to the previous Congress government of Capt Amarinder Singh.

UNI