The Congress has asked the Election Commission (EC) of India to replace Punjab director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini so as to ensure free and fair conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Citing the DGP's "close proximity" to the Badals and also the framing of charges against him in a criminal case in Delhi's CBI court, Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira wrote to state chief electoral officer (CEO) Raminder Singh to replace Saini during the general elections in the state.
Khaira mentioned the framing of charges against Saini for kidnapping, abduction and disappearance of three people under sections 342, 343, 364 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the CBI court on December 6.
In the context of the CBI chargesheet, Khaira cited the EC's directions dated January 19, 2014, that read, "The commission further desires that no office/official against whom a criminal case is pending in any court of law be associated with election work or election duty."
Khaira stated that Saini played a key role in deflating the disproportionate assets case against the Badals during his tenure as the state's vigilance bureau chief director, who had also "served the interests of the Badals" by lodging corruption cases against Capt Amarinder Singh after the Badals came to power in 2007.
{{/usCountry}}Khaira stated that Saini played a key role in deflating the disproportionate assets case against the Badals during his tenure as the state's vigilance bureau chief director, who had also "served the interests of the Badals" by lodging corruption cases against Capt Amarinder Singh after the Badals came to power in 2007.
{{/usCountry}}He said the Badal government then appointed Saini as the state DGP immediately after retaining power in 2012 and, in the process, Saini then superseded five senior IPS officers to hold the coveted post.
"Saini has very close proximity with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and son Sukhbir Badal, who is the deputy chief minister and also the home minister of Punjab," he stated.