Mrs Haryana DGP gets a ticket from Chautala, EC shunts husband out

The transfer comes as a snub to Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who had vehemently defended Malik and ruled out his removal. Shifted to a non-election-related post, the DGP himself shrugged off the order, saying: ‘‘I am yet to receive it.’’

What’s more, the Election Commission has not left it to the discretion of the state government to appoint a new DGP. Instead, it has asked for a panel from the state and will choose an officer from it.

Sources in the Haryana Government said the panel would be shortlisted after Chautala returned to Chandigarh.

Three seniormost IPS officers of the state—Nirmal Singh, B R Lal and A S Bhatotia—are likely to figure in it.

Malik’s appointment had been controversial from the beginning as Chautala chose him as Rathore’s successor bypassing several seniors. There was open talk of his proximity to the ruling Chautala clan. His quick promotions first as ADGP and then as DGP during the Chautala regime further added fuel to the fire. Till today he also held the crucial post of DGP, Vigilance.

Besides, Malik is the general secretary of the Haryana Olympic Association headed by Chautala’s son Abhay Singh Chautala. He also holds prominent positions in various sports organisations, and had set up a sports school in his native village Shamlon Kalan in Jind district.

During his stewardship, the Haryana police booked and arrested more than two dozen political opponents of the CM, leading to protests from political parties.

However, the INLD ticket to wife Krishna made things too hot for Malik. Most of the opposition parties, especially the BJP, asked for his transfer, saying that voters would be intimidated at his behest in Sonepat. EC sources in Delhi confirmed that the transfer order followed complaints from parties on Malik’s role in the Sonepat election.

The Opposition was unanimous in its praise of the EC today with state Congress chief congratulating the Commission. ‘‘We have been vindicated,’’ said Haryana BJP chief Ganeshi Lal. ‘‘We met the EC and wanted the Commission to act to save the democratic and constitutional norms, as we hardly had any hopes from the Chief Minister.’’

Lal added that the party was also demanding the removal of Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Yadav—who is the returning officer for the Rohtak parliamentary seat—and S P Alok Kumar Roy, ‘‘as these officers, who are directly connected with the election process, attended a meeting of INLD leaders with Abhay Singh Chautala’’.