Minister wife takes stand for DGP Mohammad Mustafa

Wednesday, 05/04/2017

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=175502&boxid=58437&uid=&dat=2017-04-05

Chandigarh : Though he has not yet been given the command of state police, getting his transfer orders revoked in two days DGP Mohammad Mustafa whose wife Razia Sutana is a Minister of State in Punjab government has sent a strong message across the state police.

Known to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the 1985-batch Mustafa was transferred from Punjab State Human Rights Commission to Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defence, replacing 1981-batch IPS officer G D Pandey on April 1.

However, after two days, on April 3, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Affairs) N S Kalsi issued a fresh order revoking the previous one.

According to information, both the officers had not yet assumed the new offices and by the time they were asked to continue at their existing places of posting, citing some undisclosed administrative reasons.

The development created a buzz not only in the police headquarters at Chandigarh but across the state as everyone knows about Mustafa’s ambition to become the top cop of the state, and at times the police officer has been observed talking about it in public.

In the revocation of the transfer orders, Mustafa’s wife Razia Sultana has reportedly played a key role as she was the one who took up the matter with the Chief Minister and conveyed the ‘displeasure’ of her husband.

It is learnt that Mustafa, who was not much liked by the erstwhile Shiromani Akali Dal government for his proximity to Captain Amarinder Singh, was quite hopeful to get elevated as the DGP Punjab Police in Capt Amarinder’s regime.

His chances were strong but the Chief Minister, who carries high respect for the sitting DGP Suresh Arora for his integrity, asked the latter to continue in the position.

As Arora had already applied for Central deputation, once convincing him the state government also wrote a letter to Union government, expressing its desire of not relieving Arora. Amid this, the chances of Mustafa to get elevated got a setback, though for the time being.

Now while pursuing his case, the state minister Razia Sultana reportedly asked the CM not to shift her husband from the current position if he can’t be appointed as the DGP Punjab at this stage.

It is pertinent to mention that Mustafa is one of the most decorated cops of the state but in the previous SAD-BJP regime he was unable to get a reputed position.

Speaking to Daily Post, Mustafa denied exploiting his political clout in getting the orders revoked but admitted his wife’s role in the same.

On the other hand, G D Pandey denied joining the issue, stating that finding no significance of such matters while serving the state he would never ask for posting or transfer.