A day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann shot a letter to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit taking exception to the premature repatriation of a Punjab cadre IPS officer from the post of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Chandigarh, the Governor on Wednesday wrote back saying the action was taken after reports of ‘misconduct’ against the officer.

The Punjab Governor, who is also the Administrator of the Union Territory (UT) Chandigarh, had relieved SSP (UT) Chahal, a 2009 batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, with immediate effect on Monday. SSP Chahal had joined the Chandigarh Police in October, 2020. Usually, IPS officers come on deputation of three years but Chahal was relieved after two years.

“The contents of the letter demonstrate that due care has not been taken to ascertain the facts while writing the said letter and dispatching it. Had that care been taken, then such a letter could not have been written at, in the first place and It must be noted,” Purohit said in his letter.

“When serious inputs started coming about the misconduct of SSP UT Chahal, I ascertained their authenticity from reliable sources, after which, I communicated telephonically with Chief Secretary (CS), Punjab on 28 November, 2022, about my decision to remove Chahal, SSP UT from critical post. At the same time I advised him to send a panel of efficient IPS officers for the post of SSP, UT, I also told him that DGP,

UT, Praveer Ranjan, will apprise you of the facts,” he added.

The letter said that Ranjan met CS, Punjab, on 30 November at 4.30 pm and narrated the details of the case and also requested for a panel, to be sent by the Government of Punjab.

 “The same day, Advisor UT Administration also talked to the CS telephonically and made a request for sending a panel. Chief Secretary, Punjab also met me in my office on that very same day at around 5.30 pm and apart from discussing other matters, he was also advised by me, to send a panel of IPS officers, as early as possible. Kuldeep Chahal, IPS, too called on me on November 30 and he was clearly told that he had to go back to his Punjab Cadre. Since during this period you were busy campaigning in the Gujarat Assembly poll, it was not possible for me to contact you,” it said.

The Governor also told the Punjab CM, “You also raised unnecessary issues of Punjab versus Haryana in this connection which is not applicable in this case of ad-hoc appointment, for a very short period i.e. for a week or two. I wish you should have considered these aspects before writing a letter to me.”