EC raises objection over candidature of S S Virk as DGP

The Election Commission has written a confidential letter to the Maharashtra government on the candidature of senior IPS officer S S Virk

The Election Commission has written a confidential letter to the Maharashtra government on the candidature of senior IPS officer S S Virk for the post of the state director general of police. Confirming this, state Home Minister Jayant Patil told MiD DAY the government was taking into account the observations made by the EC.
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However, when asked if Virk continued to be in the foray, Patil refused to comment, but said that Virk was the senior-most IPS officer.

R I Singh, chief secretary, Punjab, said that they have sent a detailed report to the EC on Virk, but refused to divulge the details. However, officials in the Punjab home department revealed that Virk's alleged involvement in election-related malpractices are mentioned in the confidential report. Virk was arrested and jailed for over a month in 2007 after the vigilance bureau booked him for allegedly possessing Rs 18 crore. The amount was disproportionate to his known sources of income.

'I am innocent'

Virk, however, told MiD DAY, "During the election period in 2001-2002, I underwent surgery for urinary bladder cancer at Breach Candy Hospital. How can I get into any such act when I was in Mumbai?'' He added, "I am a victim of the Punjab government's political vendetta against me. I am innocent."

Senor IAS officials who will decide on the new DGP for the state said the government was also considering DGP (Commandant General Home Guard and Director, Civil Defence) J D Virkar for the post. Virkar, who has a non-controversial past, had earlier expressed his disinterest for the post. The state has to submit the DGP's name to the high court by March 14. State Chief Secretary Johnny Joseph said that the government will finalise the name by this evening. The court has set aside A N Roy's appointment as the state DGP after terming the selection procedure arbitrary.

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