PM Modi security breach: Govt to chargesheet erring officers, says chief secy
Hindustan TimesFollowing flak from the Centre over the delay in action over the breach of security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Punjab visit in January last year, chief secretary Vijay Kumar Januja said that all indicted officers will be chargesheeted. After a missive from the Centre last week wherein Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla asked the Punjab chief secretary to submit an action-taken report, Janjua said that the home secretary has already moved the file to the chief minister for approval for issuing chargesheets against the nine erring IPS officers, including former DGP S Chattopadhyaya. The provision, titled ‘Assistance to Group’, states: “It shall be the duty of every Ministry and Department of the Central Government or the State Government or the Union Territory Administration, every Indian Mission, every local or other authority or every civil or military authority to act in aid of the Director or any member of the Group whenever called upon to do so in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities assigned to such Director or member.” “The SPG Act was violated by the Punjab officials, and the Centre can act against any erring officers. The report of the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Punjab visit on January 5, 2022, that was submitted six months ago indicts then state chief secretary Anirudh Tewari and police chief S Chattopadhyaya for lapses. Earlier this week, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla asked Punjab chief secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua to submit an action taken report, highlighting the delay by the state government in acting against the erring officers.