Terming it a serious matter,the Punjab Police on Friday assured the Punjab and Haryana High Court that appropriate and strict action will be taken against the Inspector General (IG) of Police,S K Asthana,if allegations of him forcing police officials to work as his personal servants were found to be true. A letter written in this regard by DGP Sumedh Singh Saini was produced before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. The letter was produced in response to a PIL on behalf of six officers alleging that Asthana was keeping 31 policemen and forcing them to do daily chores. The Bench was assured that any extra police official with Asthana will be withdrawn with immediate effect. The court,however,directed the Punjab Police to file an affidavit as to what action is being taken in this regard. The case will come up for resumed hearing on November 2. The petitioner,a Panchkula resident S K Nayar on behalf of the six officers alleged that Asthana had got policemen posted at his official residence for his personal work. As per the allegations,the IG has been forcing them to bring clothes,milk for free and escort his private guests.
