Tainted officer Thind retires,turns down farewell invite

“False cases have been registered against me by some of the police officers and my conscience does not permit me to mingle with them,” he wrote. The letter added: “I have already filed a case in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT),asking for promotion as DGP (which the government has illegally denied me) with two years’ extension,besides other benefits,I will get my uniform back,if the petition is accepted.”

Thind,who is also a recipient of President’s Police Medal (1992),said he considered himself a “whistleblower” in cases of corruption,timber mafia and drug trade in the state. “I have become a victim of the government and fellow police officers,” he said.

He,however,extended his good wishes to the younger officers. “I have no grudge against anyone. May all gazetted officers of Himachal Police retire as DGPs. I have enjoyed many moments of my career. There is no regret,” he summed up.

The police,meanwhile,gave farewell to another retiring IPS officer Deepak Bagai,Special Director General of Police. The party was attended by DGP G S Gill and all senior officers. Bagai was promoted as Special DGP only a few months ago. “Thind’s absence was felt at the party,” said an officer.

Thind had served as superintendent of police,Solan,SP and DIG (Enforcement) and Additional DGP (CID).

He also faces prosecution in an FIR registered against him at Parwanoo for exhorting money from a businessman,Ashok Mittal. Charges of disproportionate assets are also levelled against him. The IPS officer has filed a case of corruption and disproportionate assets against Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal in the state Lokayukta.

Under the service rules,the government is supposed to revoke the suspension of a retiring gazetted officer before the day he attains the age of superannuation. However,sources close to him said,no such order was issued till late evening in case of Thind.