An interim officer has been appointed to oversee the Amritsar Rural police post while a permanent replacement is yet to be finalised.

Punjab Government Suspends Amritsar SSP and Moga ADC Amid Rising Crime and Alleged Irregularities

The Punjab Government has suspended Amritsar Rural SSP Maninder Singh and Moga ADC-cum-Municipal Commissioner Charumita for lapses in law enforcement and alleged financial irregularities.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered the suspension of SSP Maninder Singh. It followed reports of a sharp rise in gangster-related activities in Amritsar. The officer was accused of failing to mitigate organised crime. Singh, an IPS officer of the 2019 batch, had previously served as Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Amritsar Police Commissionerate, Superintendent of Police in Tarn Taran, and Assistant to the Governor of Punjab (ADC).

A senior official said that the government is committed to ensuring accountability and effective law enforcement across the state. He emphasised that timely action against criminal networks is a top priority. An interim officer has been appointed to oversee the Amritsar Rural police post while a permanent replacement is yet to be finalised.

Meanwhile, in Moga, PCS officer Charumita was suspended under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 1970, following alleged irregularities in land acquisition compensation worth Rs 3.7 crore along the Dharamkot–Bahadurwala National Highway stretch. A farmer’s complaint prompted a Vigilance Bureau probe, leading to the suspension. Charumita has denied any wrongdoing, claiming she had no involvement in the irregularities. During suspension, her headquarters has been fixed in Chandigarh, and she is barred from leaving without permission.

These suspensions follow a previous administrative move before the Tarn Taran bypoll, when SSP Dr Ravjot Kaur Grewal, the district’s first woman SSP, was suspended after complaints from the Shiromani Akali Dal regarding alleged political bias. Dr Grewal was later replaced by Surinder Lamba.

These measures highlight the Punjab government’s focus on ensuring accountability among senior officers, maintaining law and order, and addressing administrative irregularities. Analysts note that such decisive action may strengthen public confidence in governance while sending a clear message to officials about the importance of diligence, integrity, and timely implementation of duties.