Bhopal police have started a probe into the complaint of death threat by IAS officer Lokesh Kumar Jangid, who has been in the eye of a storm for past few days, after a trail of his alleged chat on a social media group, wherein he seemingly made controversial comments regarding corruption by his senior officer, got leaked.
Jangid had sent a letter to the MP director general of police on Thursday late night saying that he had received a call wherein he was abused and death threat was issued to him and his family (child) to go on leave for six months and to stop talking to the media.
The officer, currently posted as additional mission director with the Rajya Shiksha Kendra of the state education department, also sought round the clock one-four guard and two armed commandos as private security officers (PSOs) in view of the threat.
Speaking to media on Saturday, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police of Bhopal, Irshad Wali said that a probe has been started into the complaint and he also personally met the officer, but since the call was made from social media app Signal (according to the officer) and it was later uninstalled and there was no screenshot or other recording available, a case had not been registered due to lack of physical evidence.
Wali, however, said that the police have sent an email seeking information from the central server of the app service provider and that a forensic examination of the officer’s phone handset will also be made to find any evidence possible.
Jangid did not respond to THE WEEK’s phone calls and text message.
The controversy
The controversy surrounding Jangid, a 2014 batch IAS officer, began on Wednesday after screenshots of a trail of his alleged chat on social media app Signal in an IAS officers’ group was leaked on social media. In the purported chat, Jangid is seen making allegations of corruption against the Barwani district collector and also naming the chief minister and referring to the CM’s wife as being an office bearer of a community-based organization of which the wife of Barwani collector is also an office bearer.
This chat was allegedly in context of Jangid’s recent transfer from the post of additional district magistrate (ADM) of Barwani district barely after 42 days of posting. Jangid has been transferred eight times in the tenure of 4.5 years of his career in Madhya Pradesh IAS cadre. Sources said that he was transferred from Barwani after he put a plug on corruption in purchase of COVID-19 treatment related medical equipment.
After the chat was leaked, Jangid owned it up and said that it was unfortunate that the chat in a private group was leaked by some fellow IAS officers. The MP government has issued him a show cause notice. Government spokesman and minister Narottam Mishra said that everyone including government officers should know their limits and keep time and place in mind while making any comments. Minister Vishvas Sarang said that indiscipline would not be tolerated at any cost.
Meanwhile, it also came to light that Jangid had sought inter-cadre deputation to his home state Maharashtra for three years after his latest transfer from Barwani, on June 11.
Though the officer has given personal/family reasons behind his request, the issue got politicized after the Congress said that the officer was forced to think of leaving Madhya Pradesh as he was transferred for exposing corruption (in Barwani district). After the officer made a complaint of death threat, the Congress and many social activists including Vyapam whistle blowers have demanded security for Jangid.
