The news that Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey had taken voluntary retirement on Tuesday has triggered both speculation about his political ambitions and allegations about his conduct. Pandey had quit the Indian Police Service in 2009 to join the BJP and contest the Parliament polls that year, but the state government did not accept his resignation and reinstated him.
Pandey had made headlines for his stout defence of the Nitish Kumar government's calls for a CBI probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging in his Mumbai residence in June. Pandey had also criticised the Mumbai Police's handling of the probe into the Sushant Singh Rajput case.
Amid speculation that he was eyeing a ticket for the coming Bihar polls, Pandey told news agency ANI, "I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too.”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut attacked Pandey for "running a political agenda" over the Sushant Singh Rajput case.
Raut told ANI, "The party which makes him a candidate will not be trusted by the people. The agenda behind his 'rajkiya taandav' over Maharashtra is clear now. He was running a political agenda with his statements over Mumbai case and he is going to receive his reward."
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak tweeted that Pandey's purported political ambitions were similar to that of former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha soon after his retirement. Nayak termed it as " Constant mocking of constitutional values and democratic traditions".
Another Congress spokesperson, Jaiveer Shergill, alleged Pandey had used the Sushant Singh Rajput case as a "springboard".
Shergill tweeted, "Till date I had restrained from speaking on SSR (as its pure legal issue) but this has to be said-Bihar DGP Gupteshwar using a young boy’s death as a springboard to launch his political career is sickening, nauseating & disgusting!!"
Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Sawant said the Bihar DGP was being "blatantly rewarded" by the BJP.
Sawant tweeted, "Big dirty conspiracy of BJP to defame Maharashtra to reduce its national importance! Bihar DGP who was used in this being blatantly rewarded. His VRS says it all BJP had no sympathy for SSR but saw political opportunity to use his death for Bihar elections & now for new film city.”
