An IPS officer of the 1977 batch,D S Manhas has been given additional charge of Director General of Police (DGP) of Himachal Pradesh a clear indication that his final takeover will be a mere formality. He succeeds incumbent DGP G S Gill,who has recently offered to go on leave for at least two months before his retirement. Manhas,who is at present the DGP of the states Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau,is known for his pushing ahead several high-profile cases of alleged corruption and disproportionate assets,including one against present Union Minister of Steel Virbhadra Singh and his wife and former Congress MP Pratibha Singh. Manhas has also had his share of controversies,particularly when it was alleged that two compact discs circulating since January show he was taking instructions from Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to tap the phones of Virbhadra Singh and his wife. The state CID is investigating the compact discs though a Gandhinagar-based forensic laboratory in its final report points at discontinuity,editing and modifications with alterations in both. The CDs were also sent to the forensic sciences laboratory in Chandigarh to verify their authenticity. That report is still awaited. Manhas had also started a cleanliness drive against the governments bureaucratic and police hierarchy. He registered corruption cases against controversial IAS officers,including Subash Ahluwalia and Sanjay Gupta,and also against half a dozen other tainted top government technocrats and police officers after wads of cash were recovered from their possession. Though given additional charge at the moment,most believe it is a signal that he is the next in line. A senior Home department official confirmed Manhass candidacy has the approval of the chief minister even though he is now only filling in for Gill. It is understood Gill will return at the very end of his tenure. An officer of the 1974 batch,Gill succeeded Ashwani Kumar and has had a smooth run. Kumar was appointed the director of the Central Investigation Bureau in 2008. Four senior IPS officers were overlooked by Dhumal in favour of Manhas who,sources said,is keeping up the BJPs face of zero tolerance to corruption Sources,however,said some tainted officers continue to enjoy the governments full patronage. The other four in contention were Director General (Prisons) Sohan Singh,Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in New Delhi Ajit Lal,also with the IB R N Gupta and centrally deputed Anirudh Uppal. Manhas told The Indian Express: My officer has informed me that I have been given additional charge of the post while Gill will be on leave. I cannot comment who will ultimately take over the post. Its up to the government.
