CHANDIGARH – In a significant crackdown on administrative indiscipline, the Punjab Government has suspended Lakhbir Singh (PPS), the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the Vigilance Bureau, Amritsar. The suspension follows allegations of “grave misconduct,” “dereliction of duty,” and unauthorized interference in matters outside his official jurisdiction.
The Grounds for Suspension
The suspension order, issued on December 26, 2025, by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), invokes Rule 4 (1) (a) of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970. While the official order cited general misconduct, reports indicate the action is tied to the officer’s alleged role in influencing a high-value tendering process.
Key allegations include:
- Tender Interference: The SSP reportedly attempted to “sway” a ₹55-crore development tender related to sewerage and street lighting projects in Amritsar’s posh Ranjit Avenue area.
- Unauthorized Influence: It is alleged that Singh contacted officials of the Amritsar Improvement Trust to favor a specific construction firm.
- Internal Complaints: The action was triggered after a private construction company and a senior IAS officer flagged the irregularities.
Inquiry and Departmental Action
Alongside the SSP, his reader, Inspector Sanjeev Kumar, has also been suspended. The Vigilance Bureau confirmed that an internal inquiry has been constituted to examine the matter in depth.
During the suspension period, Lakhbir Singh’s headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) in Chandigarh. He is prohibited from leaving the headquarters without prior permission from competent authorities and will only be entitled to a subsistence allowance.
Context and Significance
Lakhbir Singh was appointed as SSP Vigilance in early 2025 and gained prominence for leading the team that arrested senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in June 2025.
His suspension marks the second high-profile police exit in Amritsar within a month, following the suspension of Amritsar Rural SSP Maninder Singh for failing to curb gangster activity. These back-to-back actions suggest a hardening stance by the Punjab government toward accountability within the state’s police force.
“Appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated following an internal complaint regarding unauthorized interference in matters outside his official domain.” — Official Spokesperson, Vigilance Bureau.