Kaithal (Haryana) [India], February 14 (HBTV): Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij and District Superintendent of Police Upasana were involved in a heated verbal exchange after she allegedly refused to carry out his order to suspend a police officer in a land sale fraud case.
The incident occurred during a District Grievance Redressal meeting. According to reports, Assistant Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar, posted with Karnal Police, is accused of fraud in a land dispute.
He allegedly took an advance of INR 7 lakh from a buyer to sell land. When the documents were later found to be incorrect, the buyer cancelled the deal and demanded a refund. After Sandeep refused to return the money, a case was registered at Titram police station in Kaithal.
Investigators found that Sandeep allegedly used his influence to slow the probe and have the case transferred to the Economic Cell in Karnal.
During the meeting, Vij ordered SP Upasana to suspend the officer immediately. She clarified that since the policeman belonged to another district, she did not have jurisdiction to suspend him and could only report the matter to the Deputy Inspector General of Police.
Vij said, ‘I can suspend anyone in the entire Haryana. Suspend him on my orders.’
The SP reiterated that she could not suspend him under the rules. The minister then said, ‘Write a letter to the DIG citing my order.’
Later, speaking to reporters, Vij clarified that he had not directly asked the SP to suspend the officer but to communicate his directive to the competent authority.
He said, ‘Be it me or any officer, we are here for the people, we are here to ensure that the general public gets justice, and that is why we should treat people in the same way. I have not asked the SP to suspend; whoever has power should be told that I have given these orders for suspension.’
(ANI)