My transfer is prerogative of the government, says Kundu

Chandigarh, September 13

A day after he was transferred, IAS officer V S Kundu, whose daughter had last month accused state BJP chief Subhash Barala’s son and his friend of stalking, on Wednesday said the decision to shift him was the prerogative of the Haryana Government.

Kundu also said he is satisfied with the role of Chandigarh Police and the prosecution in the stalking case and that he does “not see any sign of witch-hunting” in his transfer.

Varinder Singh Kundu, IAS officer of Haryana cadre who was holding the post of Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Department, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, Science and Technology department. He was among the 14 IAS and two HCS officers who were transferred yesterday by the Haryana Government.

“It is the prerogative of the state government to transfer its employee and it is their call,” Kundu said today.

“I never questioned the motive of the state government in taking such decisions, and as an employer, it is the state government’s call to use an employee where it thinks best,” he said.

“I do not see any sign of witch-hunting in this move,” he said.

On the stalking case, Kundu praised both the Chandigarh Police and the prosecution for working “pretty well” on this case.

A court here yesterday dismissed the bail plea of Barala’s son Vikas who had been booked on charges of stalking and attempting to abduct Kundu’s daughter Varnika.

The woman had accused Vikas Barala (23) and his friend Ashish Kumar (27) of stalking her.

Both were arrested on the intervening night of August 4 and 5 following her complaint but were released on bail as they had been booked under bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act.

They were arrested again on August 9 after they joined the police investigation and were then charged with attempted abduction under Sections 365 and 511 of the IPC.

The incident had triggered a spate of protests. — PTI