PHAGWARA: The Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) Retired Officers Association has strongly condemned the recent arrest and detention of Iqbal Singh Sandhu, a retired PCS officer, by the Vigilance Department.
The Association held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. B.S. Dhol to address the issue and unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the action. According to the press note issued by the Association today the FIR in question was originally registered by Iqbal Singh Sandhu himself while he was still in service.
However, in a surprising turn of events, his name was later included in the same FIR for reasons that remain unclear. Despite the FIR being over ten years old and Sandhu having retired four years ago, he was recently arrested in connection with the case. The press note highlights that prosecution sanction against Sandhu was denied twice by the competent authority, raising further questions about the legitimacy of his arrest. The Association has expressed its concern over what it describes as an "illegal arrest, " calling for the Government of Punjab to intervene in the interest of justice.
In its statement, the Association urged the government to review the case, withdraw the charges against Sandhu, and ensure his immediate release. The move has drawn attention to the treatment of retired civil servants and the potential misuse of legal procedures against them. The Association’s firm stance reflects growing unease among retired officers about the implications of such actions on their community. The case is likely to spark further debate on the protection of civil service officials, both active and retired, from unwarranted legal actions.