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Ex-Punjab IPS falls victim to digital thuggery, attempts suicide after losing crores

By
LO Bureau
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Punjab Police

Fraudsters follow a simple theory—feed on human greed—without bothering about who the possible target is. The overconfidence of the police background blinded this former Punjab IPS officer, Amar Singh Chahal (IPS:1990:PB), to this stark reality and drove him into their trap. It proved catastrophic and drove him to attempt suicide by shooting himself with the rifle of his security guard at Patiala on Monday.

Chahal, who retired as an Inspector-General (IG), has been suffering from bone cancer for the last two years. He narrated his trauma in a detailed 12-page note pointing to a massive cyber fraud and his own sense of collapse in its aftermath.

Chahal’s life was saved as the bullet struck his chest and lodged in his lungs, yet his condition is extremely critical due to massive blood loss, the doctor attending to him said. In a 12-page note addressed to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Chahal has alleged that he had been cheated of Rs 8.10 crore by cyber fraudsters posing as wealth management advisors.

The retired IPS officer wrote at length about his emotional state, expressing distress over financial ruin and shame.

He urged authorities to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or hand over the case to the CBI to trace the money trail.

According to the note, the fraudsters operated through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, allegedly luring investors by promising unusually high returns through stock trading, IPO allotments, OTC trades, and so-called “quantitative funds.”

The Punjab police said they are investigating both the firing incident and the alleged fraud.

 

RTI wakes up Union Govt to ask states for Civil Services Board formation

By
LO Bureau
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360-degree empanelment process

An RTI by a whistleblower wakes up the Union Government from a decade-long slumber to ask for an urgent status report from all states on the formation of Civil Services Boards (CSBs). The Department of personnel and training (DoPT) wrote to the states on Dec 16, asking them if CSBs were constituted in line with the Supreme Court’s order.

The Supreme Court, in its verdict on Oct 31, 2013, had called for the formation of the CSB in every state to ensure stability in the posting of civil servants, fixing a minimum tenure of two years for All India Service (AIS) officers. The verdict was followed by a DoPT’s notification to this effect, in 2014.

Both, the apex court verdict of 2013 and the subsequent DoPT’s notification in 2014, made it mandatory that postings to cadre posts be based on CSB recommendations with a minimum two-year tenure for AIS officers.

According to the rules, states are required to submit quarterly reports to the Centre explaining transfers made before completion of the minimum tenure.

Thus, it is virtually a follow up action of the DoPT’s own notification issued more than a decade ago, in 2014. Interestingly, even this follow up action was taken only after an RTI was filed by whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi (IFS:2002:UK), an Indian Forest Service officer of Uttarakhand cadre on Dec 3.

Chaturvedi’s RTI has sought certified copies of file notings, documents and correspondence identifying states that have constituted CSBs, along with details of premature transfers of All India Service officers — IAS, IPS and IFS — in violation of tenure norms since the 2014 notification.

ACC approves repatriation of NIA chief Sadanand Date to Maharashtra

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Sadanand Date

In a significant development, senior Maharashtra cadre IPS officer and incumbent Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sadanand Vasant Date (IPS:1990:MH), has been repatriated to his parent cadre. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Monday (December 22, 2025) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for his premature repatriation with immediate effect.

The premature repatriation comes amid strong indications that Date is likely to be appointed the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, with incumbent DGP Rashmi Shukla set to retire on December 31. The Maharashtra government had earlier forwarded a list of seven senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for shortlisting, with Date being the senior-most officer among them. As reported earlier by LegendOfficers.com, the state government had also requested the Centre to repatriate him to facilitate the appointment process.

Date took charge as Director General of the NIA in April 2024, succeeding Dinkar Gupta (IPS:1987:PB), who superannuated on March 31, 2024. Prior to his central deputation, Date served as chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and held several key positions in the state police, including Police Commissioner of Mira Bhayandar–Vasai Virar, Joint Commissioner of Law and Order, and Joint Commissioner of the Crime Branch in Mumbai.

He has also served two stints in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as Deputy Inspector General and as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

A highly decorated officer, Date was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his role in countering the terrorists during the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks. He has also received the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2007 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2014. (By- Rajeev Singh)

Also Read: Maharashtra misses NIA chief Date, urges Centre for his repatriation (December 3, 2025)

Also Read: Selection of next Maharashtra DGP enters final stage; seven names sent to UPSC (November 4, 2025)

PESB invites applications for Director (Finance) at Power Grid

By
LO Bureau
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Power Grid Corporation of India

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has invited applications for the post of Director (Finance) at Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL). The vacancy notification was issued on Monday (December 22, 2025) with January 12, 2026, fixed as the last date for submission of applications through the PESB portal.

The post will fall vacant on July 1, 2026, following the superannuation of the incumbent, G Ravi Shankar, on June 30, 2026. He has been serving as Director (Finance) at Power Grid since September 2022.

Eligible candidates from both public and private sector organisations have been invited to apply for the position.

Also Read: G Ravi Shankar appointed Director(Finance), PGCIL

Sharandeep Kaur Brar takes interim charge of FCI Punjab Region

By
LO Bureau
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Sharandeep Kaur Brar IAS

Haryana cadre IAS officer Sharandeep Kaur Brar (IAS:2009:HY), General Manager of the Food Corporation of India’s Haryana Region, has been given additional charge of General Manager, FCI Punjab Region, following the completion of B Srinivasan’s (IAS:2011:PB) deputation tenure.

According to an official order issued by the Food Corporation of India on December 22, 2025, B Srinivasan completed his tenure as General Manager, FCI Punjab Region, on December 29, 2025. With his relieving, the competent authority has entrusted Brar with the additional charge of the Punjab region. She will hold the charge until further orders or until a regular incumbent is appointed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), whichever is earlier.

The interim arrangement comes amid uncertainty over whether the Centre will continue the long-standing practice of appointing a Punjab cadre IAS officer as FCI Punjab General Manager. Traditionally, the post has been held by officers from the Punjab cadre.

Earlier reports suggesting that an AGMUT cadre officer could be considered for the post had triggered concern within the Punjab government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had written to Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi on November 6, cautioning that any deviation from convention could create apprehensions among farmers, arhtiyas and other stakeholders.

The Punjab government had initially sent a panel of Punjab cadre IAS officers to the Centre, which was returned after certain objections were raised. Following this, the state government forwarded a revised second panel, which is currently under consideration, though no final decision has yet been taken on the regular appointment.

Also Read: FCI Punjab GM Post: Will Tradition Hold or Centre Break Convention?

REC Limited sweeps four honours at PSU Transformation Awards 2025

By
LO Bureau
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REC Limited, the Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise operating under the Ministry of Power, has clinched top honours at the prestigious 5th PSU Transformation Awards 2025, sweeping four major accolades. The multiple recognitions underscore the power financing firm’s unwavering commitment to operational resilience, sustainability, robust governance and compre-hensive digital transformation.

The company received the Silver Award in the ‘Resilience in Action Award’ category for ‘Cyber Defence & Resilience’. This recognition celebrates REC’s strengthened cyber security framework and its enhanced preparedness against increasingly complex digital threats. The award was received by K Venugopal, Senior General Manager (IT) and Head of Department — CISO, along with the CISO team.

Highlighting its focus on environmental responsibilities, REC secured the coveted Gold Award in the ‘Green PSU Award’ category for ‘ESG Leadership & Net-Zero Operations’. The honour, accepted by Awanish Kumar Bharati, General Manager (Finance) and Neha Sharma, Deputy General Manager (Finance), acknowledges the company’s leading position in environmental, social and governance practices and its dedication to achieving net-zero goals.

REC’s meticulous approach to corporate governance was also recognised with the Risk Management Leader Award for ‘ISO 31000 for Risk Management – Guidelines’. The award, received by Jeetender Kumar, Deputy General Manager (Finance) and Hitesh Kumar Meena, Deputy Manager, validates the successful implementation of internationally aligned risk management practices throughout the organisation.Further reinforcing its commitment to the digital domain, REC won the Rising Star Award for ‘REC Limited Official Website Transformation: A Digital Gateway to a New Corporate Identity’.

Ujjal Mondal, Assistant Manager (BDM), accepted the award, which acknowledges the successful overhaul of REC’s official website into a modern, user-centric digital platform. The multiple victories at the 5th PSU Transformation Awards 2025 reaffirm REC Limited’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its continued focus on innovation, sustainability, good governance and digital advancement, all of which are crucial to supporting India’s vital power and infrastructure development objectives.

ACC approves redesignation of two IAS and one IPS officers to Director level

By
LO Bureau
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Kartavya Bhawan

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Monday (December 22, 2025) approved the redesignation of two IAS officers and one IPS officer to the rank of Director, with effect from January 1, 2026. All three officers are currently serving at the Deputy Secretary level, and their posts have been upgraded accordingly.

The officers approved for redesignation include Iva Ashish Srivastava (IAS:2010:UK), who is presently serving as DCO/DCR, Uttarakhand, Lalit Jain (IAS:2011:HP), currently posted as DCO/DCR, Haryana, and Guriqbal Singh (IPS:2012:AGMUT), who is serving as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ashok Barnwal-led green team wins IAS Service meet in Bhopal

By
LO Bureau
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IAS Service Meet Bhopal

The three-day IAS Service Meet ended in Bhopal on Sunday with the announcement of final results. The Green Team, led by Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal (IAS:1991:MP), won the overall title.

All results of sports and recreational events held during the meet were announced on the last day. IAS officers were divided into four teams. The Red Team was led by Chief Secretary Anurag Jain (IAS:1989:MP). The Green Team was led by Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal. The Orange Team was headed by Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Shukla (IAS:1994:MP). The Blue Team was led by Principal Secretary Raghavendra Singh (IAS:1997:MP).

After all events were completed, the Green Team finished first with 160 points. The Red Team came second with 154 points. The Orange Team stood third with 126 points. The Blue Team finished fourth with 116 points.

The main event on the final day was an 18-kilometre cyclothon. It started from Arera Club and passed through the Chief Minister’s residence and Van Vihar National Park. Around 40 IAS officers and family members took part in the cyclothon.

Pariki Pandla Akshar finished first in the cyclothon with a time of 38 minutes. Shivraj Singh Verma and Abhay Singh jointly finished second with 45 minutes. Ishan Suman Singh came third with 47 minutes.

The final day also saw informal interactions among officers. The three-day meet included sports events, cultural programmes, boat races, cooking contests and activities for families. Family members took part in large numbers.

The IAS Service Meet was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. The event ended with the Green Team winning the overall title and the cyclothon marking the close of the meet.

Aishvarya Singh appointed Special Roll Observer for Kerala SIR

By
LO Bureau
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Aishvarya Singh IAS

Sikkim cadre IAS officer Aishvarya Singh (IAS:2008:SK) has been appointed as the Special Roll Observer to oversee the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. She is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.

As part of her assignment, Ms. Singh conducted a detailed review meeting of the SIR activities in Thiruvananthapuram district on Saturday, December 20, 2025. During her visit, she also participated in a meeting with representatives of political parties convened by Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar (IAS:2003:KL).

According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the Special Roll Observer will continue reviewing SIR activities in other districts of the state. Ms. Singh visited Wayanad on Sunday, December 21, 2025, and is scheduled to be in Kozhikode on Monday, December 22, 2025.

During these visits, she is reviewing the progress of SIR-related work, interacting with district election officials and political party representatives, and assessing the measures taken to ensure the accuracy and inclusiveness of the electoral rolls.

The enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision concluded on December 18, and the draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on December 23, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office said.

Madras HC hellbent on eradicating ‘Orderly System’, asks state govt for explanation

By
LO Bureau
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Madras High Court

The orderly system, a vestige of the colonial hangover, is grabbing headlines in the extreme southern part of the country, with the Madras High Court sounding hell-bent on its complete eradication. In an attempt to enforce its complete abolition, the court refused to entertain the report filed by the Director General of Tamil Nadu Police, saying the orderly system stands completely abolished in the state. The court on Friday asked the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary of the state for an explanation.

The bench comprising justice SM Subramaniam and justice C Kumarappan referred to recent news reports suggesting that uniformed personnel continued to be made to work as orderlies at the residences of serving and retired government officials.

The HC came down heavily on it, as the orderly system had been abolished way back in 1979 through the government order.

To cap it, justice Subramaniam had ordered, in August 2022, a complete abolition of the orderly system in the state and had directed the authorities to remove the orderlies posted to the residence of retired officials. It had warned of disciplinary action if any complaint was received.

It had also directed the state Home Ministry to take strict action against higher officials, including departmental action and recovery of orderly’s salary from errant official, whenever an incident of practising the orderly system was reported. However, the court lamented even in 2024, while dealing with another case, that despite several court orders, the practice continues to exist.

In the present case, the court’s direction came while hearing a petition filed by Advocate A Radhakrishnan, seeking police protection based on his representation.

It was when the court questioned whether its earlier order on abolishing the orderly system had been complied with that the State Public Prosecutor submitted a circular issued by the DGP-incharge Abhay Kumar Singh calling for the complete eradication of the system of posting police personnel as orderlies to the residences of serving and retired police officers for unofficial work. 

The court suggested installing a real-time tracking system in the DGP’s office for effective monitoring of all the officials on other duties.

The court adjourned the case to January 7.

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