Departmental inquiry of former Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu, who is facing trial in forest land grab case, has not been completed for six years. Sidhu was handed over the charge sheet a day before his retirement in 2016. Presently he is receiving interim pension.
Former DGP BS Sidhu has been accused of buying land and illegal felling of trees in the reserved forest area of Virgirwali, Rajpur under Mussoorie Forest Division.
The departmental inquiry of former Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu, who is facing trial in the forest land grab case, has not been completed for six years. Sidhu was handed over the charge sheet a day before his retirement in 2016. Presently he is receiving interim pension.
Former DGP BS Sidhu has been accused of buying land and illegal felling of trees in the reserved forest area of Virgirwali, Rajpur under Mussoorie Forest Division.
The then Inspector Nirvikar Singh had also accused him of harassment to influence the investigation by abusing his position.
On this, the government handed over the charge sheet to him on 29 April 2016, just a day before his retirement. Due to this the Home Department stopped his gratuity and started a departmental inquiry into the matter. Several investigating officers were nominated in the case, but the investigation did not proceed.
In 2019, the investigation was handed over to retired bureaucrat DK Kotia. But the report of Kotia has not yet been received by the department. For this reason, the department is issuing interim pension to Sidhu only with the condition. His gratuity has been withheld till the investigation is completed.
Questions on the investigation of retired bureaucrats: Questions are being raised on this matter entrusting the work of investigation to retired bureaucrats.
DK Kotia has also investigated the assembly recruitment case earlier. He is also the chairman of Ayushman Society. He has also been the chairman of the Public Service Tribunal in the past. Many more bureaucrats have been appointed as the chairman of commissions or all inquiry committees from time to time.
Raturi and Mittal are also getting interim pension
Former DGP PD Raturi and ADG Rakesh Mittal, who are facing investigation in the 2003 Daroga recruitment case, are also getting interim pension. The said matter is still in the court, so at present the Home Department has not issued gratuity to both. Both of them are also issued interim pension on the condition of six months each.