Heads roll as gifted pistol’ recoils

The transfer has come even as the inquiry against Garg, ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is in progress. According to senior police officials, it was late last night that Commissioner of Police Ajai Raj Sharma decided to recall Garg from the district. Officials say further decisions about Garg’s posting will be taken only after the office of the Joint Commissioner (Vigilance) R P Singh submits its report. The report will then be forwarded to the MHA.

Along with Garg, the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Model Town Devender Dutt Sharma has also been shunted to the third battalion.The shoot-out case, in which Congress MLA Kanwar KaranSingh’s brother Narender was killed and three injured, has already been handed over to the Crime Branch. The DCP’s role in the investigations came under a cloud following allegations that he had accepted an imported .32 bore pistol as a “gift” from Sushil Goyal, a close acquaintance of the main accused in the shoot-out — Rajesh Sharma.

Goyal, a businessman and national karate champion, was apparently well-known to Garg. And it has been alleged that Goyal had used his proximity to Garg to help Sharma get a recommendation for a licence for his personal weapon licence from him.

Police has been interrogating Goyal to find out the whereabouts of Sharma, who has been missing since the day of the shoot-out. While three of the accused in the shoot-out — Yashpal Mahendroo, his son Nitin and brother-in-law Pawan — have been arrested, the men who actually fired the shots Sharma and Vishal Kapahi are still at large.

Senior police officials say there were no other options left as the main accused were stillabsconding and allegations were being made about the DCP’s proximity to friends of the accused.

Moreover, the norms laid down under the Indian Police Service regulations state that any officer accepting a gift worth Rs 15,000 and above, should inform the Police Headquarters about it.

According to R K Sharma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration): “DCP Garg reported to me this afternoon. He has been attached to me till the inquiry committee finalises its report. He had asked for time and most probably by Monday, November 22, he will file his reply.”

R P Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Vigilance), who will be verifying the reports that have appeared in the media, said: “The officer will be given the first opportunity to explain the allegations that have appeared in the press. These would then be verified by me and a report would be handed over to the office of the Commissioner.” The process will start on Monday and will be finished “expeditiously”. Singh said the report will cover allaspects concerning the case.

The verification report would be studied by the Commissioner who will then forward it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Any disciplinary action or punishment that needs to be meted out against the officer, is entirely the prerogative of the MHA.