The Uttar Pradesh government has lifted the suspension of 2008-batch IPS officer Alankrita Singh and approved her voluntary retirement (VRS). Her resignation will now be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for approval, with the President of India expected to accept it soon.
Singh was under suspension since April 2022 on charges of negligence and indiscipline. Investigations revealed that she had traveled to London without official permission while serving as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Women and Child Safety Organisation. Notably, she had been absent from duty since October 20, 2021, when she informed her senior officer via WhatsApp that she was in London.
Singh had been on central deputation since March 2017, serving as Deputy Director at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, until April 25, 2021. Upon returning to her parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh, she took leave for one and a half months. She was later posted as SP in the Women and Child Safety Organisation on June 10, 2021.
However, by October 2021, Singh stopped attending her office. On October 19, 2021, she called her senior, Additional Director General (ADG), via WhatsApp and informed them that she was in London. Since October 20, 2021, she has not reported for duty. An inquiry was subsequently initiated by the state government, leading to her suspension in late April 2022.
Meanwhile, Singh applied for VRS, which has now been approved by the state government.
Alankrita Singh’s husband, Vidya Bhushan, a 2008-batch IAS officer, also took VRS in March 2023. During his career, he held key positions, including District Magistrate of Amethi, Pratapgarh, and Etawah, and Managing Director of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam in Varanasi. Bhushan sought VRS on medical grounds, which was approved by the state government.
Both Singh and Bhushan have relocated to London, where they are reportedly employed at a university. Officials suggest that Singh’s decision to opt for VRS stems from aspirations for a better future in the private sector.