Vigilance Chief removed, Muktsar DC IAS Rajesh Tripathi removed and Suspended. In a major action against corruption in the state, the Bhagwant Mann Government has removed and suspended the Deputy Commissioner of Sri Muktsar Sahib following the serious complaints of corruption.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab Govermmnemnt said that in consonance with the ‘zero tolerance towards corruption’ of the Mann Government, the state government had recently issued detailed instructions to all the officers. As per the instructions, the Punjab government had directed that officers function in a responsive and accountable manner, feedback about each Deputy Commissioner, SSP, SDM, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, SP, DSP, SHO and other field officers/officials will be taken not only from the general public but also from the elected representatives like MPs and MLAs. It was further directed that the said feedback will automatically lead to rewards and punishments for the officers.
Further, based on the said feedback the state government has taken action against Deputy Commissioner Sri Muktsar Sahib. The state government had received serious complaints of corruption against the Deputy Commissioner after which a thorough enquiry was conducted against the officer. Based on the preliminary enquiry the state government has suspended the Deputy Commissioner Sri Muktsar Sahib with immediate effect.
The Deputy Commissioner has been removed from his post and a Vigilance enquiry has been marked against him. This reflects the unwavering commitment of the Punjab government to ensure full transparency, accountability and integrity in public service delivery. As corrupt practices undermine public trust, weaken institutions and hinder state’s growth, hence top priority is being accorded to check this menace.
The state government transferred the Chief Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau Varinder Kumar and suspended the Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar, Rajesh Tripathi, on charges of corruption. Sources said many party legislators had complained during the meeting of AAP MLAs in Delhi last week, about some junior officials of the Vigilance Bureau running a “parallel system” and issuing notices against officials in the administration.
As per orders issued by the state government Additional DGP (Provisioning) G Nageswara Rao, a 1995 batch IPS officer has been appointed as the chief director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in place of Special Director General of Police, Varinder Kumar a 1993 batch IPS.
Kumar joined as chief of the Vigilance Bureau in 2022. He was due to retire in July this year. Kumar has not been given any posting as yet and has been asked to report to the DGP.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office said that Kumar was transferred as there was no affirmative action by the Vigilance Bureau in several high-profile cases of corruption currently being investigated by it.
With the change at the top, the state government hopes that the investigations in high-profile cases might speed up and also junior officers will also rein in.
Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar Rajesh Tripathi, a 2016-batch IAS officer, has been placed under suspension on charges of corruption. Abhijeet Kaplish, a 2015-batch IAS officer has been appointed as new Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar.
Tripathi was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar on August 16, 2024, replacing Harpreet Singh Sudan. Before this, he served as the Additional Secretary, Revenue and Rehabilitation, and Director of Land Records, Settlement, Consolidation, and Land Acquisition in Jalandhar.
Interestingly last week the state personnel department had issued instructions asking all deputy commissioners, senior superintendents of police, sub-divisional magistrates, and SHOs to check corruption at public offices or face action.
The department had stated that corrupt practices undermine public trust, weaken institutions, and hinder national growth, so top priority must be accorded to check this menace. In order to ensure corruption-free and citizen-friendly governance, all field officers should take stringent and effective steps.
The order stated that to make the officers accountable and more responsive, feedback will be taken not only from the public but also from MLAs and MPs regarding their working.
