Haryana IGP files fresh complaint against DGP Manoj Yadava, seeks FIR under SC/ST Act

AMBALA: Haryana IGP Y Puran Kumar has moved a fresh complaint against DGP Manoj Yadava, seeking registration of first information report (FIR) under Sections of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
On May 19, 2021 at about 2.15pm, IGP Y Puran lodged a complaint against DGP Yadava to Ambala’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) Hamid Akhtar, allegedly for “obstructing him (Puran) from entering place of worship and intentionally insulting in public view”.
However, after the case was not registered within 24 hours, on May 21, 2021 at 1 pm, IGP Y Puran escalated the matter with state chief secretary, additional chief secretary (ACS) home department, additional DGP CID and secretary home 1, Haryana, by writing an email with subject, “Non registration of FIR under the sections of the SC/ST Act.”
In the recent past, IGP Y Puran had moved Punjab and Haryana high court to bar the DGP from writing his appraisal report and high court had on May 18 directed ACS Haryana to decide Puran's complaints within three months of the time from the date of receipt.
The matter relates to a news report when IGP Y Puran Kumar who belongs to SC community “installed a Shiva Linga at a temple at Traffic Police Station in Shahzadpur of Ambala district on August 3, 2020.”
In his fresh complaint, IGP Y Puran stated to the police, “On August 3, 2020, which was a public holiday, I visited the temple situated inside the premises of Traffic Police Station, Shahzadpur. The then SP Ambala Abhishek Jorwal also visited the temple the same day. The same was reported in a newspaper on August 4, 2020. Based on this news item Shri Manoj Yadava, IPS, DGP Haryana wrote a demi-official (DO) letter to me on August 17, 2020 and asked only me inform him whether any prior sanction of Government was obtained before setting up this place of worship in Shahzadpur police station. SP Ambala not asked the same.”
“On January 29, 2021, I replied to the said DO letter of Yadava and it was informed that as per the report of then SP Ambala, the said temple at Shazadpur police station existed since 2011, much before my posting as IGP Ambala…I had specifically asked Shri Yadava if he had any objection to me visiting the temple on a public holiday that too in civvies, the same shall taken up with the appropriate authority. But no response has been received till date”, said IGP Y Puran.
“He (Yadava) continued to act in a way so as to obstruct and prevent me from visiting/entering a place of worship…amounts to atrocity as per Section 3 (za) (C) of the SC/ST Act, i.e. obstruct or prevents a member of SC/ST in any manner with regard to - (c) entering any place of worship which is open to the public or other persons professing the same religion or taking part in, or taking out, any religious, social or cultural processions including jatras”, said IGP Y Puran.
IGP Puran said DGP was informed about one temple in Sirsa police lines as well. “Despite DGP Yadava being aware of this matter at Sirsa as well, no comments or explanation was sought from concerned Sirsa police officers. This clearly proves the intentions of DGP Yadava to only target and harass me selectively, discriminatorily and to prevent and obstruct me to visit any temple. This has hurt my sentiments badly as I belong to SC community which is well in knowledge of DGP Yadava”, said IGP Y Puran.
He said that DGP Yadava did not clarify his position on this matter and it was also escalated up to Rajiv Arora, ACS home in a DO dated February 10, 2021, detailing the episode.
IGP Y Puran said it was specifically highlighted on Page no. 3 to ACS home, “This seem to suggest that he (Yadava) does have some objection to my customary right of passage to place of public resort or me having access to a place of public resort to which other members of public or any section thereof have a right to use or access to.”
“DGP Yadava wrote DO letters on March 18, 2021, March 19, 2021, and April 20, 2021, in which, he specifically insulted, humiliated, threatened and intimidated me by ridiculing the professional competency, attribute false allegations….DGP Yadav intentionally and purposely endorsed these letters to other officers to humiliate, insult and threaten me in front of others in writing which amount to public view. These actions and conduct of DGP Yadava amounts to atrocities under Section 3 (p), 3 (q) and 3 (r) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act”, added IGP Y Puran.
In his letter to CS, Haryana, ACS home, IGP Puran has asked them to ensure that an FIR is registered in his matter as per relevant Sections of the SC/ST Act.