Sumedh Singh Saini

As of March 2012, Sumedh Singh Saini is the Director General of Police of Punjab, India. He has been heavily involved in policing both terrorist- and corruption-based matters and has a mixed reputation, being seen by some people as a firm upholder of the law and by others as a violator of human rights.

Career

Sumedh Singh Saini joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1982 and progressed to serve six districts as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) [1] before succeeding Anil Kaushik as the Director-General of Police (DGP) for the Indian State of Punjab on 15 March 2012. He is heading the State Police out of the seven Directors General in the State. The appointment made him the youngest DGP in India.[2]

Appointed very soon after a new government had been formed, involving the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Saini has been tasked with reducing crime and inhibiting the activities of people involved in the drug trade. Although supported by the present Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, the BJP claim that the decision to appoint was a unilateral one and that they were not consulted.[3] The Times of India noted at the time of his promotion that Saini "... has been in and out of controversies — within the service he has his detractors as well as ardent followers in equal number besides a dedicated fan following among policemen who fought during terrorism."[3]

Saini has been a prominent figure in the efforts to maintain law and order in Punjab, in particular during a period in the 1980s and 1990s when terrorist activity was prevalent.[4] In 2005 he was described as a Dirty Harry figure who inspires fear in those whom he seeks to bring to justice. His methods have attracted complaints and caused him to be reported for alleged breaches of human rights, and he has also faced trial as a consequence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) linking him as the prime suspect in the alleged disappearance and murder of three men. That case was finally quashed by the Supreme Court in December 2011.[5][6] His activities in corruption investigations have won praise, in particular a 2002 case that involved the Punjab Public Service Commission and various High Court judges.[4]

In 1987, Saini won the country's highest award for gallantry, in recognition of his leadership in operations against Khalistani insurgents, and in 1991 he had been injured in an assassination attempt made in Chandigarh by the same insurgents.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Punjab gets new DGP, chief secretary". The Times of India. TNN. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bajwa, Harpreet (16 March 2012). "At 54, Saini youngest DGP". Indian Express. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "New DGP shakes up Punjab police with transfers". The Times of India. TNN. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Vinayak, Ramesh (5 June 2009). "Saini, judiciary’s bugbear". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  5. ↑ Singh, Vikram Jit (10 September 2005). "Dirty Harrys Thrive in Amarinder Regime". Tehelka. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  6. ↑ "Refrain from ordering roving CBI inquiries, High Courts told". The Hindu. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-29.