Punjab CM Amarinder Singh rejects IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap’s plea for early retirement

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 13

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has refused to accept the resignation letter of IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, seeking premature retirement from service.

Declining the voluntary retirement plea of Kunwar Vijay Pratap, who is currently heading the Special Investigation Teams (SITs) probing the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing cases, the chief minister said he was a highly competent and efficient officer whose services were needed in the border state, especially at a time when Punjab was faced with various internal and external security threats.

The state needs the expertise and experience of the officer, who has contributed exceptional service to the Punjab Police in various important positions, said the chief minister, describing Kunwar Vijay Pratap as a skilled, capable and courageous officer, with an exemplary track record.

Referring to media reports on the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s orders in the Kotkapura case probe, the chief minister pointed out that he had already made it clear that any decision of the court that seeks to remove Kunwar Vijay Pratap as the SIT chief or to quash the investigations in the case would be challenged by his government in the Supreme Court.

The officer and his team have done an excellent job of expeditiously investigating the Kotkapura case, which the Akalis have tried hard to stall for the past four years, Capt Amarinder said, adding that the probe will be taken to its logical conclusion under the guidance and supervision of the able officer himself.