CBI transfer of cop halted over celebratory fire

Patna: In a major move, the state government on Wednesday canceled the transfer order of Katihar Senior Superintendent of Police Siddharth Mohan Jain after a video showed him indulging in celebratory firing. Officials said the state government has taken note of the incident which had occurred during a farewell party organised to celebrate the transfer order.

The state government had passed an order to depute senior IPS officer to the CBI in Delhi. Talking to reporters in Patna on Wednesday Additional Director General SK Singhal said, “His deputation to the CBI has been canceled and an investigation has also been launched”.

Nitish Kumar government in Bihar had carried out a massive bureaucratic reshuffle by releasing the order to transfer as many as 70 administrative officials.

A government notification issued on April 28 said that 45 IAS and 25 IPS officers were transferred. The transfer order had surprised many in the political circles.

Katihar SSP Siddharth Jain and DM Mithilesh Kumar were among several others who were transferred. While Mr. Jain was being sent to the CBI on central deputation, DM Mithilesh Kumar was given the post of IG Prison.

Sources from Katihar claimed that the farewell party was organized to celebrate the promotion of both the officials.

The DM was seen singing a song from popular Hindi film Sholay while SSP was seen dancing and firing in the air from his service revolver.

“Being an IPS officer he should set an example for others. Everyone expects senior government officials to show some maturity”, Mrityunjay Kumar, president Bihar police men’s association said.

The dancing and firing incident was also condemned by legal fraternity. According to a high court lawyer, “what we saw in the video was the complete misuse of power. Indulging in celebratory firing by senior police officials cannot be tolerated”. In another video Munger SP Ashish Bharti is seen dancing.