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No plan to remove police chief, says U.P. Govt.

Row over alleged grabbing of a PAC bungalow by DGP's MLA wife

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday said there was no plan to remove Director General of Police (DGP) Yashpal Singh over the issue of alleged grabbing of a PAC bungalow by his MLA wife.

Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha denied suggestions that the government was contemplating shifting of the DGP.

Commenting on allegations made by DGP's MLA wife Geeta Singh of the ruling Samajwadi Party that the controversy was generated by Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) chief Bua Singh to tarnish her husband's image, Mr Sinha said the entire controversy was "perhaps a fallout of domestic feud between the couple." He termed the matter as a domestic issue.

Mr Sinha claimed that the relationship between the DGP and the ADG was cordial and contradicted that he was safeguarding the ADG.

On Saturday last, Ms Singh had said that by charging her with grabbing a bungalow in Gonda, which reportedly belonged to the PAC, the PAC chief wanted to tarnish the image of her husband and become the next DGP.

Reiterating her allegations on Monday, Ms. Singh said the bungalow in question belonged to her relative and the PAC had no legal claims over it.

"In fact the Principal Secretary (Home) and Bua Singh belong to the same batch...the two are conspiring against me," she said.

Mr Sinha, however, denied the allegations and maintained he had so far not been approached by Ms. Singh. "I have not received any written complaint so far."

While, Mr Bua Singh was on leave in Mumbai, the DGP refused to comment on the controversy when asked by reporters in Varanasi.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister and SP leader Md. Azam Khan too termed the controversy as a "ghar ka mamla". He, however, refused to elaborate on the issue.

Earlier Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari had demanded a high level probe into the issue claiming that morale of the State police would be degraded due to such controversy after the Panda issue.

"The government should immediately order probe into the issue as it would divide the police department in two factions," he claimed.

U.P. Police earned some bashing when former IG (Rules and Manuals) D.K. Panda openly danced in public claiming himself as 'Doosri Radha' wearing `dupatta', nose ring and bangles.

He also had scuffles with his wife, Veena and their domestic fight even spilled out in public.

During the fight between Panda and his wife, Geeta Singh openly supported Veena while the State police helped Panda in avoiding his suspension. Later, Panda was allowed a VRS last month. -- UNI

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