Centre may strip Bengal top cops of medals

Intensifying the war of wits with West Bengal government, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is contemplating stripping top police officers, including Director General of Police Virendra Kumar, of their medals and removing them from the list of seniority for participating in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dharna.

Sources said similar action is also being considered against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who was at the centre of the tussle between the CBI and the state administration over the former's attempt to question him in chit fund scam cases. The MHA has already asked the state to take disciplinary action against Kumar.

Besides the DGP, the four other officers under the radar of the MHA are Additional Director General (Security) Vineet Kumar Goyal, ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma, Commissioner of Police (Bidhan Nagar) Gyanwant Singh and Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police Supratim Sarkar.

Sources said the action includes withdrawing medals or decorations conferred on them for meritorious service and removal of their names from empanelled (seniority) list. Another punitive measure under consideration is banning them for a certain period from serving in the central government.

The MHA is also likely to ask the state government to take action against them for alleged violation of All India Service Rules.

Separately, the MHA is also contemplating issuing an advisory to all states to ensure those police officers adhere to conduct rules and maintain decorum.