DSP suspended for sending ‘abusive’ texts to minister

CHANDIGARH: A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Punjab Police Balwinder Singh Sekhon has come under the scanner for sending “inappropriate and vulgar” messages to Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu over a period of four months.

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Punjab Police Balwinder Singh Sekhon has come under the scanner for sending “inappropriate and vulgar” messages to Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu over a period of four months.

Ashu was among the three ministers who had complained in the Cabinet meeting of not being heard in the government with regard to their grievances. In one of the messages, the DSP called Ashu a “dirty dog”. In another, he abused him explicitly. Ashu showed these to his Cabinet colleagues in the last meeting.

When raising the issue with the top brass in the police did not yield results, the minister took it up in the Cabinet meeting in front of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, complaining that no action had been taken against the “belligerent” police officer.

The DSP was today suspended and an inquiry has been ordered against him on the directions of the Chief Minister, who had directed his Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar to take a strict action.

The minister said the DSP had been sharing inappropriate comments on the social media and was defaming him unnecessarily. “I have nothing more to say as my complaint has been addressed,” he said.

The DSP said he was being victimised for pointing a finger at the minister in the Grand Manor Homes CLU case while probing the matter on the directions of the then Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. The issue had rocked the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session in February this year. Now, the matter is with the incumbent minister Brahm Mohindra.

On being asked about the objectionable messages, the DSP said, “If one is aggrieved and harassed by those in power, he is left with no option but to react.”

Was carrying orders

I am being victimised for pointing a finger at the minister in the Grand Manor Homes CLU case while probing the matter on the directions of the then Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. Balwinder Singh Sekhon, DSP