Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: In a petition seeking withdrawal of security cover to Kewal Sharma, ex-PRO to ex-Deputy Chief Minister and enquiry into the accumulation of disproportionate assets, High Court today directed Kewal Sharma to file his response with a period of three weeks. Even the Secretary, General Administration Department was directed to file status report on the action taken by the State Vigilance Organization with respect to allegation of accumulation of assets by Kewal Sharma.
When the petition came up for hearing, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Suraj Singh and Rahul Raina appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the court towards the latest status report filed by Mukesh Singh, Inspector General of Police (Personnel) PHQ.
In the status report, it has been submitted that pursuant to the verbal report entered vide DDR No.24 dated 26-07-2013 of Police Post Pouni Chak the then SSP Jammu, Atul Goel vide order No.2031 of 2013 dated 07-08-2013 transferred two police officials from Police Station Pacca Danga, Jammu to DPL Jammu for their further attachment as PSOs with Kewal Sharma.
According to the status report on 27-07-2013 on the verbal direction of then SSP, Jammu, a guard comprising of 4 officials was deputed for the first time on 27-07-2013 and the guard was subsequently changed by supplementing with another guard comprising of four police officials and this continued upto 10-10-2014 when on the verbal orders of the SSP, Jammu Uttam Chand the guard was withdrawn.
The status report further said that one PSO had already been deployed prior to this incident with Kewal Sharma on the verbal orders of the then SSP, Jammu Anand Jain with date of deployment as 03-12-2011. The said PSO was subsequently changed with another PSO over the period of time and this process of deployment continued upto 15-10-2014 when on the verbal order of SSP, Jammu Uttam Chand, PSO was withdrawn from Kewal Sharma.
He referred an affidavit filed by Dr S P Vaid, ADGP, PHQ filed in the Supreme Court in SLP (C) No.25237 & 23984 of 2010 titled Abhay Singh V/s State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors wherein it is submitted that the security cover to an individual is provided as per the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India in “Yellow Book” which is a classified document.
“All these facts reveal that two IPS officers abused their official position and did not follow the established procedure and with oblique motives provided undue security cover to Kewal Sharma”, Advocate Ahmed said and prayed that both these IPS Officers be impleaded as party respondents.
At this stage, Senior Advocate M K Bhardwaj with Advocate Ajay Vaid caused appearance on behalf of Kewal Sharma and submitted that before passing any direction time may be allowed to file response on behalf of Kewal Sharma, who is facing threat to his life. His request was conceded by the court.
High Court also directed Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department to file updated status report in regard to enquiry initiated by State Vigilance Organization regarding accumulation of disproportionate assets by Kewal Sharma.
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