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Cricketer Kranti Gaud’s father, suspended 13 years ago from Madhya Pradesh police, is reinstated – after CM’s nudge

Munna Singh, a constable at the time, was suspended in 2012 on allegations of negligence during election duty. The case remained unresolved since then

(LEFT) India's Kranti Gaud celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Aliya Riaz during aICC Women's Cricket World Cup match; (RIGHT) Kranti's parents, Neelam and Munna Singh, an ex-police constable, in the two-room police quarters in Ghuwara. (AP Photo, Express Photo by Abhinav Saha)(LEFT) India's Kranti Gaud celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Aliya Riaz during aICC Women's Cricket World Cup match; (RIGHT) Kranti's parents, Neelam and Munna Singh, an ex-police constable, in the two-room police quarters in Ghuwara. (AP Photo, Express Photo by Abhinav Saha)

Nearly 13 years after he was suspended from service, Munna Singh, the father of India’s Women’s World Cup–winning fast bowler Kranti Gaud, has been reinstated in the Madhya Pradesh police, bringing closure to a long-running personal and administrative ordeal that shadowed the family for more than a decade.

The reinstatement order was issued on Monday by the state police headquarters, following the intervention of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who had publicly assured Gaur during a felicitation ceremony last year that her father’s case would be resolved. The assurance was made after India’s historic triumph in the ICC Women’s One Day World Cup in November 2025, in which Kranti played a key role.

Singh, a constable in the Madhya Pradesh police, was suspended in 2012 on allegations of negligence during election duty. The case remained unresolved for 13 years, during which the family faced prolonged financial and social hardship. Gaur, who hails from Ghuwara village in Chhatarpur district, has repeatedly spoken about the difficult years that followed her father’s suspension, recalling times when the family struggled to manage bare necessities.

The CM underlined the wider significance of the decision: “With this decision, the Gaud family has received both economic and social support. It has also fulfilled Kranti Gaud’s cherished dream of seeing her father retire with dignity in a police uniform.”

According to government officials, the CM’s assurance to Gaud was honoured strictly in accordance with service rules. Acting on his directions, the police headquarters completed the formal process to restore Singh to service.

The issue gained renewed attention after Gaud emerged as one of the standout performers in India’s maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title win last year. She finished among the leading wicket-takers of the tournament, becoming a symbol of perseverance for many, given the circumstances in which she rose through the ranks of Indian cricket.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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