IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap meets Punjab Governor, firm on his resignation

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 16

Despite Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh rejecting his resignation, IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap today met Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore. The IG called the meeting “personal”. He later told the media he would not withdraw his resignation. His meeting with the Governor further stoked the controversy regarding the officer’s role as the key investigator in the Kotkapura police firing case.

The High Court quashed the SIT investigation on April 9 and asked Punjab to form a new probe team sans Kunwar Vijay Pratap following which the IG resigned on April 14. The Punjab CM issued a statement the next day, saying the resignation had been rejected and that he fully trusted the investigating officer.

At the meeting today, the Governor advised the IG to reconsider his decision, but the latter said he had already made up his mind, sources said. The meeting lasted about 25 minutes after which the IG told the media he was firm on quitting. “The CM tried to convince me to withdraw the resignation. Instead, I was able to convince him on my decision to resign,” he said, clarifying that he had been meeting the Governor every month in his ‘personal capacity.’

Talking to The Tribune later, the IG said he would disclose his future course of action at the appropriate time. On reports that he may join a political outfit, he said he had no such plans as of now. “I keep meeting politicians. It’s part of my job,” he maintained.