UP Govt Orders Closure Of Probe Against IAS Officer Himanshu Kumar

Uttar Pradesh government has abruptly ordered closure of vigilance probe against an IAS officer Himanshu Kumar. The 2010-batch IAS officer Mr Kumar was facing the probe for the past four years for demanding lakhs of rupees for issuing favourable transfers orders. He had been put under suspension by the government on basis of a classified report submitted by SSP Gautam Buddha Nagar Mr Vaibhav Krishna to the Principal Secretary Home and the DGP.  

The suspension was followed by the vigilance probe but halted by the state government on Monday evening. The vigilance department also lodged an FIR against Mr Kumar with Meerut police.

The latest order halting the vigilance probe says that the vigilance probe did not find the allegations levelled against him to be correct. The vigilance department thus, recommended to the government that the vigilance probe against him to be closed forever. State government accepted the recommendation and closed the probe giving Mr Kumar a big relief. Now, the Meerut police too are likely to file a closure report in the court. 

The then SSP Noida, Mr Vaibhav Krishna had sent shockwaves through the entire police department four years ago by accusing five IPS officers of running a transfer racket in the state. These officers were  - Ajay Pal Sharma, Sudhir Singh, Himanshu Kumar, Rajiv Narain Mishra, and Ganesh Saha.

This provided the opposition much fodder to the opposition against Yogi Adityanath government. The CM had then watered down the case by ordering a probe through a five-member SIT headed by the Director, Vigilance. The SIT found the allegation against Mr Sharma and Mr Kumar to be true, following which an FIR was lodged against both of them with Meerut police.

The vigilance department had given a clean chit to both officers last year. After this Mr Ajay Pal Sharma was appointed as SSP, Jaunpur. Now, after the closure of the probe against him, Mr Himanshu Kumar too may be given some important posting as well. He is presently posted as SSP, Jaunpur. 

Perennially Controversial

Born in Bihar, Himanshu is a postgraduate in public administration. He did a course in journalism as well. He is married to Ms Priya Singh from Patna but soon after the marriage ran into rough weather. Ms Singh accused Mr Kumar of demanding dowry and sought divorce. She also got an FIR registered against him under anti-dowry and domestic violence acts. Another FIR was registered against him for a defamatory tweet after the formation of Yogi Adityanath government and he was put under suspension.