RAIPUR: An IPS officer attached to the Chhattisgarh police, who was sacked by the Ministry of Home Affairs citing “non-performance” of duties, was a winner of the President’s police medal for meritorious services. The Ministry of Home Affairs had sacked Kailash Chandra Agrawal and A M Juri, both IPS officers, earlier this week.
Agrawal, who is a member of the state police service, had also received “timely promotions” and was made the deputy inspector general of police in January 2016. A review committee of the state, which included the chief secretary, director general of police and some senior officials, found Agarwal “no longer useful or productive” following which, the home ministry dismissed him after obtaining the approval of the Cabinet Appointment Committee.
Although he is found ‘no longer useful’, the Chhattisgarh home department had in 2010, after evaluating his performance, recommended him for the President’s Medal for meritorious service.
“I just got a two-line official communication which cited my removal from the service in ‘public interest’. No specific reason was given. I have never faced any departmental inquiry or any probe so far in my career. Rather, I’ve always gotten timely promotions and a recognition for meritorious services”, Agrawal said. On Thursday, he wrote to the Union Home Ministry, the state government and top authorities seeking the reasons behind his sacking from the job.
When asked about allegations that he offered protection to the coal mafia during his tenure as Surajpur SP in 2005, he said: “It’s (the allegation) absolutely baseless and a creation of the media.”
“How could I serve till now without any explanations being sought. And why was the President’s award given to me besides timely promotions and increment, if I was indeed protecting the mafia?” he asked.
State DGP A N Upadhyay was unavailable for comments.