Chandigarh, April 28
Former Punjab DGP S.S. Virk has finally joined duty in his parent cadre of Maharashtra. Sources confirmed that Virk, a 1970 batch IPS officer, reported for duty in Mumbai yesterday on the instructions of the union home ministry.

A letter from the Maharashtra government informing about Virk’s joining was sent to the MHA last evening. Virk has not been given a place of posting, a top official of the Maharashtra police confirmed on the phone today, saying the MHA had sent instructions that Virk should be made to join duty when he reports. The MHA had used the words “deemed to have been relieved from the Punjab cadre”. The Punjab government had requested that Virk should not be relieved till the completion of an inquiry against him here.

Virk, who was on deputation with the Punjab government, was suspended by the ruling SAD-BJP combine on April 4. The MHA had prematurely ended Virk’s deputation period on April 11 and ordered that he be sent back to his parent cadre. His deputation period would have normally ended on May 7.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had taken the stand that his government would not relieve Virk as he was facing an inquiry in an alleged land deal.

The MHA sent Punjab’s request to the cabinet committee on appointments, which made it clear that Virk should be asked to join duty in Maharashtra. The MHA did not want any confrontation. Hence, it had asked the cabinet committee to decide.

Police circles indicate that Virk could either get a post with the central government or be made the DGP of Maharashtra.