Mann gives clean chit to state's former chief secy

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has absolved of any wrong doing, senior Indian Administrative Service officer and the state's former chief secretary Anirudh Tiwari, who was among the officials indicted by a Supreme Court appointed committee looking into the breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security during a visit to the state on January 5, 2022, according to official documents seen by HT.

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The Centre is awaiting a report on action taken against erring officials, and Union home secretary Rajiv Bhalla, has already sent three reminders to Punjab government. The Punjab government has thus far acted only against seven state-cadre police officials, who have been suspended. The breach took place when the Charanjit Singh Channi-led Congress government was governing the state.

Former chief secretary Vijay Kumar Jaunja, in response to the Centre's reminder sent a fourpage note to the CM for action against Tiwari in May, HT learns. HT also learns that in May, an officer posted in the chief minister's office, sought a reply from Tiwari, who passed the buck to Punjab Police, and said that the chief secretary's office does not keep a "blue book" which lays down the protocol for visits by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.

A panel headed by retired Supreme Court justice Indu Malhotra had indicted Tiwari for not deputing any officer to travel with the Prime Minister's motorcade. He was the officer responsible for coordinating with the Centre for the visit of the PM. In his testimony, Tiwari said Husan Lal, the then principal secretary to CM, was to join the convoy of the PM as a nominee of the chief secretary, but tested positive for Covid-19 and thus could not accompany the PM.