Probe Mandi drug mafia case in 3 months, DIG told

Vijay Arora

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Shimla, January 16

Expressing serious concern on the issue of initiating departmental proceedings against the police constable, who has raised voice against the drug mafia and the excise mafia working in Mandi district, the HP High Court has directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (APT)-Police Training College Daroh, Kangra district, to complete the inquiry of this case within three months.

Justice Ranjan Sharma passed this order last week on a petition filed by police constable contending therein that on the basis of information available and being a sincere officer he noticed the involvement of some police personnel, who had been sheltering the “drug mafia” and the “excise mafia” at Pandoh (Mandi district) or nearby areas where he was posted. He brought these facts to the notice of the higher authorities, including the Superintendent of Police, Mandi, by way of representations.

It was further contended that instead of taking action on the requests/representations of the petitioner as well as the petitioner’s mother, it is the petitioner who was taken to task by issuing a memorandum on March 15, 2023 and initiating proceedings against him for misconduct.

While passing the above said order, Justice Ranjan Sharma observed that “this court cannot refrain itself and shut its eyes so to ascertain the veracity of the allegations in the instant case, whereby, the petitioner, a constable in Police Department, who had the confidential information/inputs, of other persons, including the police personnel and officers, who have been shielding and sheltering the drug and excise mafias, have been let free and no action has been taken against them, whereas it is the petitioner who has been made a scapegoat, by issuing a memorandum by initiating the departmental proceedings against the petitioner.”

It further observed, “Even the Principal Secretary (Home) had directed the Director General of Police to ascertain the veracity of allegations made in the complaint. Though this order was passed in December, 2022 almost more than one year is over, surprisingly, Deputy Inspector General of Police (APT) -Police Training College Daroh, Kangra district, has not made any earnest efforts to conclude the inquiry, for reasons known to him. Since the allegations are serious, the action of the DIG in not taking the inquiry to its logical end is not in tune with the principles of fairness, reasonableness and justness.”

Enlarging the scope of the inquiry, the court directed the DIG (APT) to hold the Inquiry into all aspects, as contained in the case records, after associating all concerned, within three months but not later than April 15.

What petitioner contended

The petitioner contended that he noticed the involvement of some police personnel, who had been sheltering the “drug mafia” and the “excise mafia” at Pandoh (Mandi district) or nearby areas where he was posted. He brought these facts to the notice of the higher authorities. Instead of taking action, it is the petitioner who was taken to task.