Durga Nagpal 'regrets' actions, suspension may be revoked

After being suspended from her post for alleged involvement in the demolition of an under-construction mosque in a village in Gautam Buddh Nagar, IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal has reportedly “regretted” her actions and could be reinstated in the next couple of days.

According to sources here, Nagpal met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav briefly, and expressed regret over her actions, “paving the way for revocation of her suspension”. Her husband Abhishek Singh, also an IAS officer, accompanied her to the meeting.

Sources said the chief minister was satisfied with her explanation and that she could be reinstated as early as Sunday.

The government had earlier asked Principal Secretary R M Srivastava to investigate the matter. Srivastava has not yet submitted his report, sources said.

In reply to the charge sheet served on her by the government, Nagpal had denied playing any role in the demolition of the mosque wall. There were allegations that she had been suspended for taking on the sand mafia in the district, who enjoyed patronage from the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders.

Nagpal was the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) when she was suspended. Unhappy with the strict action taken by the officer against the sand mafia, local SP leaders had her suspended.
The official had seized several dumpers and vehicles belonging to the sand mafia. A video came to light later which showed a relative of an SP leader revealing that many senior party leaders of the G B Nagar district were involved in protecting the mafia.

Narendra Bhati, SP leader and Lok Sabha nominee from G B Nagar, had earlier boasted that he got the SDM suspended “within 41 minutes”.

Nagpal's suspension had triggered nationwide condemnation. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also intervened in the matter and sought the revocation of her suspension.