ADGP SPS Parmar and two cops Harpreet Singh Mander and Swarndeep Singh were suspended on April 25 in driving licence scam
CHANDIGARH: Many a eyebrows were raised when in a dramatic turn of events, the Punjab government has reinstated two PPS officers suspended along with Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, to their original positions, raising questions about the selective enforcement of disciplinary actions. The three senior officers were placed under suspension over alleged misconduct and inaction in the ongoing Driving License Scam investigation.
The reinstatement of two PPS officers has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who argue that the selective reinstatement undermines the credibility of the anti-corruption drive initiated by the Punjab government. The opposition parties have questioned the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that how two police officers suspended on corruption charges are given clean chit without any probe into such a serious matter. Either, the CM is shielding the corrupt or he is selective in dealing with corrupt officers, the opposition asks.
The government has defended its decision, stating that the investigation against the two officers did not substantiate the charges of misconduct, leading to their reinstatement.
On April 25, 2025, the Punjab government issued a suspension order against SPS Parmar and other two officers of Vigilance Bureau, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harpreet Singh Mander and Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Swarandeep Singh, citing, "grave misconduct and negligence of duty." The suspension was later approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.
The MHA has mandated the Punjab government to file a charge-sheet against Parmar by June 23, 2025. Parmar remains suspended with a pending charge-sheet. The two PPS officers have been reinstated to their previous positions. The Punjab government revoked their suspension orders on May 18, 2025, and directed them to resume their duties as SSP Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar, and AIG Flying Squad, Vigilance Bureau, SAS Nagar, respectively .
The Driving License Scam came to light in early 2025, exposing irregularities in the issuance of driving licenses across Punjab. The scam allegedly involved the use of fake documents and bribes to obtain licenses without proper verification, compromising road safety and endangering public security. ADGP SPS Parmar, appointed as the Chief Director of the Vigilance Bureau on March 26, 2025, was expected to spearhead the investigation into the scam. However, allegations soon emerged of inaction and dereliction of duty in the case.
According to the government, Parmar was found to have failed in taking necessary actions against key suspects in the scam, leading to further losses to the exchequer and compromising the integrity of the investigation. The suspension order effectively bars him from exercising his duties as the Vigilance Chief, pending further inquiry.
The opposition has not taken the developments lightly. Bikram Singh Majithia and Partap Singh Bajwa Senior leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress respectively have questioned the government's intentions, alleging that the reinstatement of the PPS officers while retaining the suspension of SPS Parmar reflects selective targeting and internal power struggles within the administration. "Why are some officers being reinstated while others continue to face action?" asked a senior leader from the Congress, highlighting inconsistencies in the government's handling of the case.
The Driving License Scam investigation continues, with the Vigilance Bureau reportedly expanding the scope of the probe to include other regional transport offices and possible connections to organized criminal networks.