PM Modi security breach: Punjab to send “interim” report soon, after MHA seeks ‘detailed’ action-taken report

Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua said on Tuesday that the state government will soon submit an “interim” report to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach during his visit in January 2022.

This comes after the Central Government requested a detailed action-taken report on PM Modi’s security breach from the Punjab government. According to sources, a letter was sent to the Punjab government via the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) requesting a detailed action taken report against the erring officers. According to the Chief Secretary, the state government has received and is considering the report of the inquiry conducted by the Supreme Court-appointed panel into the incident.

Speaking to ANI, Punjab Chief Secretary, Janjua said that the state government will send an interim report to the MHA in a day or two.

“A petition was filed before Supreme Court. SC formed a panel that conducted an inquiry. They sent us the report. They examined the roles of all officers, as to what was the lapse and on whose part,” he said.

“They’ve given all details. We have the report now, it’s under consideration. Action is being taken but an opportunity for a hearing is given to all officers before action is taken. We’ll send an interim report (to MHA) in a day or two that we are taking these actions,” Januja added.

It was previously reported that Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked Vijay Janjua to submit the action taken report, highlighting the Punjab government’s delay in prosecuting the wrongdoers.

According to sources, the letter was sent earlier this month, indicating that the report would be shared as soon as possible.

A report submitted six months ago by the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during PM Modi’s visit to Punjab on January 5, 2022, indicted then-state Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari, Police Chief S Chattopadhyaya, and other top officers for lapses.

Soon after the security breach, the MHA had constituted a three-member committee that summoned Director General of Punjab Police, Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, Punjab ADGP, Patiala IGP, and Ferozpur DIG along among over a dozen top Punjab Police officers. They were in charge of the Prime Minister’s security during his January 5 visit to Punjab’s Ferozpur.

The MHA then formed a three-member committee led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Cabinet Secretariat Secretary (Security), Balbir Singh, Joint Director (IB), and S Suresh, IG, Special Protection Group.

The Centre is considering action under the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act against Punjab Police officers following the breach in the security of Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Punjab on January 5.
Section 14 of the SPG Act makes the state government responsible for providing all assistance to the SPG during the PM’s movement

The MHA’s three-member team started its probe from its visit to the flyover where Prime Minister’s convoy was stuck for over 15-20 minutes due to a road blockade by protesters during his visit.

The MHA had constituted the three-member committee to enquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during the PM’s visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur, which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk.

The MHA had then also asked the Punjab government to “fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action”.