Punjab CM Accepts IG Kunwar's Resign Probing umranangal Case

The 1998-batch officer of the Punjab cadre had tendered his resignation on April 11, two days after the Punjab and Haryana high court had quashed the probe by the SIT into the Kotkapura firing incident.

Inspector general of police (IGP) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh,  resigned from service in the wake of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashing the special investigation team (SIT)’s report on the Kotkapura firing case. He said that he will be starting a new inning as a lawyer.

In the midst of this, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has accepted the premature retirement request of IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, according to official sources.

Punjab Ex IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh Firm on His Resignation

Particulars :

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh is a loyal, determined, and censurable IPS of batch 1998. During his tenure, he has solved many critical cases like the kidney racket and jail corruption cases. Also, he was appointed to lead the SIT committee which was investigating the case of Punjab Police, probing the IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal’s case. The incidents had taken place in 2015 after the alleged desecration of a religious text in Faridkot.

He reportedly tendered his resignation after the Punjab and Haryana high court had quashed the probe by the SIT into the Kotkapura firing incident.

The HC had also asked the state government to reconstitute the special investigation team without IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh. However, the verdict copy is still awaited.

When we look back and talk about the incidents of Kotkapura and behbal kalan firing related to the Bargadi disgrace case, then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal have also been questioned and both of them should be challaned in court in both incidents. The recommendation was made by IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh on March 15, about 25 days before the Punjab Haryana High Court canceled the investigation report and removed him from the investigation team in the Kotkapura firing incident. 

Further, Kuwar Vijay Pratap has added that the investigation into these incidents is almost complete and the cases have reached a critical point, in such a situation, the security of the witnesses needs to be ensured. He has also mentioned in the report the suspicious death of Surjit Singh, a witness in the behbal kalan firing some time ago, and the threats being received by Resham Singh, brother of Kishan Bhagwan Singh, who died in that firing incident.

Looking back on April 18, 2015, before the HC ordered the reconstitution of an SIT without IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh in the Kotkapura firing case, the IG had written to the DGP and Director, Bureau of Investigation (BoI), accusing SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of pressuring and luring a key witness with a job. A formal complaint against many police officers was launched. Ajit and his father work as a granthi in a gurdwara at Ghania village of Bathinda.

Things You Should Know About IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh

Present Statements:

Recently in a media conversation, a spokesperson of the Akali Dal, however, has put an allegation on Kunwar Vijay Pratap that he is having the intention to join a political party. 

The Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson said that kunwar Vijay Pratap is doing so and accelerating the situation by creating a hype of the case just to defame Badals and gain political benefit out of it. He clearly stated that it is a big drama going on to lay the foundation of his political career so that he can fight elections next time.

Further, he was pointed out to be a friend of Navjot Singh Sidhu and taking a decision under his influence.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said in a statement that he would file a defamation suit against the ex-IG for making false claims in the letter.

The SAD president said the ex-IG was obsessed with targeting the SAD and the Badal family. He knew from the proceedings of the Kotkapura firing case in the high court that his probe would be cast aside. The latest allegation is a result of this deep-rooted frustration and aimed at politicizing a case after wasting three years pursuing the political agenda of the Congress party. 

According to him, “It is a clear case of gross misuse of his official position to please his political bosses rather than nailing the culprits in the case.”

Giving the status of the investigation, he has written: “It is further submitted that the investigation of these cases has been completed in all respects. Sukhbir Singh, the then Deputy Chief Minister and in charge of the Home Department, has been examined on l9.l l.20l9 by the SIT. Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, the then Chief Minister, has also been examined on 16.11.2018 by the SIT. One challan in respect of them is required to be submitted in the court of competent jurisdiction, as mentioned in the first challan presented on 27 .05.2019 in FIR No. 12912018 (PS City Kotkapura). Similarly, one challan is also required to be filed in FIR No. 130/2015 (Behbal Kalan firing case).” 

Further, Kunwar Vijay Pratap requested protection as the matter has become truly crucial and indispensable at this stage in this case. It is a matter of fact that one of the key witnesses Surjit Singh died in January 2020 under mysterious circumstances.

However, there is not any general report other than acceptance of resignation is reported yet from the CM office.