High-Stakes Standoff: IPS Officer's Family Denies SIT Access to Crucial Laptop in Recruitment Scam Probe

A dramatic new twist has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the Haryana Police recruitment scam, as the family of a prominent Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Kala Ram Chohan, has reportedly defied a formal request from the Chandigarh Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) to surrender his official laptop.

This unexpected refusal threatens to impede crucial progress in a multi-crore bribery scandal that has rocked the state's police force.

The SIT, meticulously probing allegations of widespread corruption in the recruitment of approximately 1,000 women constables in 2021, arrived at Chohan's residence with a clear directive: to seize the officer's laptop, believing it contains vital evidence relevant to the intricate web of illicit activities.

However, their efforts were met with firm resistance from Chohan’s son and wife, who cited various reasons, including the officer's alleged ill health and the absence of other male family members, as grounds for their non-compliance.

According to sources close to the investigation, the family articulated concerns about the potential compromise of personal data stored on the device.

They reportedly offered a compromise, proposing to provide a pen drive containing only "relevant" data, a suggestion swiftly rejected by the SIT. The investigating team insists that a comprehensive forensic examination of the entire laptop is imperative to uncover the full extent of the alleged malpractices and identify all involved parties.

IPS officer Kala Ram Chohan has been under intense scrutiny since the scam first surfaced.

He faces serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. At the time the scandal came to light, Chohan was serving as the commandant of the fourth battalion, Haryana Armed Police (HAP). He was previously arrested on November 9 in connection with a separate aspect of the women constable recruitment scam but was subsequently granted bail, leaving investigators to redouble their efforts to build a robust case.

The recruitment controversy initially erupted following the Haryana Staff Selection Commission's decision to annul the results for 1,100 women constables due to credible reports of irregularities.

This cancellation triggered the formation of a Special Investigation Team by the Haryana Director General of Police. Separately, the Chandigarh police also initiated their own investigation after receiving a complaint from a woman who alleged she was defrauded of a substantial sum of money with the false promise of a police job.

This latest development places the Chandigarh SIT in a precarious position.

Faced with the family's persistent refusal, the investigators are now reportedly exploring legal avenues, including seeking court intervention, to compel the handover of the laptop. The outcome of this standoff could significantly impact the pace and direction of the ongoing probe, which aims to bring to justice those who have undermined the integrity of the state's public service recruitment process.