Barh SDPO drives SUV with 'MP' sticker in Delhi

PATNA: Barh SDPO Lipi Singh has courted controversy for using an SUV with ‘MP, Rajya Sabha’ sticker while on duty to seek transit remand of independent Mokama MLA Anant Singh from a Saket court in New Delhi on Saturday.
The 2016 batch IPS officer is the daughter of JD(U) Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh. RJD was quick to attack JD(U) and alleged that the police action against Anant was a political motive.Anant, also known as ‘Chhote Sarkar’, has already alleged on several occasions that he had been implicated by the police out of political vendetta.
Lipi led a Patna police team to Delhi on Friday night after Anant surrendered in a Saket court in the morning. As soon as she reached Saket court on Saturday morning, media persons spotted the ‘MP, Rajya Sabha’ sticker on the windscreen of the SUV with registration number BR-01PF-1341 in which Lipi travelled to the court.
The vehicle is registered in the name of ‘Dr Ranvir Nandan MLC’, as per the ‘vahan portal’ of Union ministry of road transport and highways. Incidentally, Nandan is JD(U) MLC.
RJD spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan told TOI over phone that the IPS officer’s act proved the allegations true that the Mokama MLA was being politically framed. “He was near and dear of JD(U) till a few years back,” he said.
Anant’s wife Neelam Devi had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Jamui on a Congress ticket against Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh of JD(U).
However, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said the officer did not violate any service code or police manual rules. “Along with being an officer, she is also the daughter of RCP Singh and she has the right to use her father’s vehicle. It’s RJD who patronizes criminals like Raj Ballabh Yadav and Shahabuddin. RJD must reply if Tejashwi had struck any silent deal with Anant to patronize him,” he said.
DGP Gupteshwar Pandey said he was not aware of the matter while ADG (headquarters) Jitendra Kumar did not respond to TOI calls.
A senior IPS officer of Bihar police, preferring anonymity, told TOI that Lipi could have used a government vehicle from Bihar Bhawan in Delhi for all official works. “There are at least 25-30 government vehicles at Bihar Bhawan. In case no vehicle is available there, it's the responsibility of government employees posted there to arrange a vehicle for an officer when demanded for official work,” he said.
Referring to The All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the officer said its sub-rule (1A) under rule 3(1) clearly mentions that an officer must maintain political neutrality.
Another IPS officer said the Barh SDPO is new in service. “Someone from police department must guide her,” he said.