CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI: Faced with the poor leadership and growing discontent with Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is desperately looking for a belligerent alternative in 1992-batch IPS Harpreet Sidhu, who is known as anti-drug crusader, to spearhead party’s clean image to handle deteriorating law and order situation Punjab.
Sidhu, on his second deputation with central force ITBP, is known for his sharp, investigative approach to handle policing in the state, having helmed drugs STF unit earlier too.
At present, Sidhu is posted in Guwahati with ITBP.
Before 2017, Sidhu had also served CRPF in Naxalite regions of Chhatisgarh.
With time racing away for the next assembly elections after a big setback in Delhi, AAP is concerned that Yadav’s lacklustre abilities have compounded party’s control in both urban and rural areas where drug recoveries have doubled, along with embarrasing cases against own IPS officers.
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Besides, hectic political statements by former SAD MLA and minister Bikram Majithia, in the drug scandal case, that Punjab Police is trying to plot a frame-up against him, are more concerning on the leakage and inability to conceal the sensitive investigations by cops.
Only on Sunday, a Mohali court had to intervene to tell Majithia to stop making such averments.
Hearing a plea filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by IPS Varun Sharma, on a search warrant for Majithia’s residence, the Mohali court told SAD leader “No details or facts of the case should be made public to preserve the neutrality and fairness of the investigation.”
Majithia, whose drug case and subsequent arrest based on Sidhu’s detailed investigation helped cement AAP’s fortunes in 2022, has turned into a AAP’s nightmare on revival of Akali Dal on a sympathy wave.
The withdrawal of his security did little to help AAP’s cause as he released a video targetting CM Bhagwant Mann.
“The only way for AAP to build a strong case against Majithia is the solid investigations into the drug case which is open and shut. Harpreet Sidhu’s comeback would seal the doors for Majithia as he knows his range and size of involvement. It was Sidhu who dealt a blow in the drugs case against several politicians fearlessly. Gaurav Yadav is least interested in these cases,” said a senior AAP leader in Punjab.
AAP sources said that Punjab government was also not happy with the subtle hints that some personal enmity scuttled Sidhu’s empanelment as DGP in Centre.
“Being a former IRS, Arvind Kejriwal understands the importance of bureaucracy and their work. He’s livid that someone in Punjab government threw a spanner in the works of Sidhu for any personal gains,” said a senior AAP leader.
