Properties of IAS,IPS Officers : Interim Report Submitted

Chandigarh, Apr 3 (UNI) An interim report on the properties acquired by Punjab IAS and IPS officers around Chandigarh was today submitted in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in line with the directions given in this regard.

The report of the inquiry conducted by Punjab Ddditional Director General of Police (ADGP) Chander Shekhar on the orders of the High Court was handed over in a sealed cover to Justice Sham Sunder by state' additional advocate general Ms Reeta Kohli during the resumed hearing on the writ petition filed by Kuldip Singh of village Nayagaon-Karoran situated near the Civil Secretariat here.

The petitioner had sought registration of FIR followed by investigation against senior Punjab IPS officer, Sanjiv Gupta IG posted at the police headquarters here, for alleged land grab. He had also sought directions for protection to him and his family alleging threats from Mr Gupta and his henchmen.

During preliminary hearing, Justice Ranjit Singh before whom Mr Gupta also filed an application to become a party but subsequently withdrew the same, taking cognizance of allegations and counter-allegations by senior Punjab police officers, had ordered the probe into the properties held by IAS and IPS officers of Punjab in the periphery of Chandigarh.

While taking the report on record and also going through it before re-sealing, Justice Sham Sunder has granted an extension of time for submission of the complete report by February 2, 2009, the next date of hearing in the matter.

However, the judge declined Punjab's prayer to entrust the inquiry to some other officer and concurred with the petitioner's counsel for completing the inquiry by Chander Shekhar ADGP ,law and order as also the State Human Rights Commission who according to the counsel had already done the majority of the work required.

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