Mr. Singh has won a gallantry award and received several awards and commendations. His Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) have mostly received 9 out of 10 marks from his superiors. His troubles started after he was appointed as the Inspector General of the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on February 27, 2019. The state government had changed barely three months ago when Mr. Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress took over as the Chief Minister on December 17, 2018, replacing Raman Singh of the BJP.

In his application before the CAT, Mr Singh alleged that during the investigation into the high-profile Civil Supplies Scam worth thousands of crores, he was politically pressured to incriminate certain persons, including Mr Raman Singh. He was also asked to dilute the charges against some others, including the main accused Anil Tuteja, an IAS officer who had already been charged.

He was abruptly transferred as the Director of the State Police Academy, his ACR was downgraded to 6 with adverse remarks and within a month, three FIRs were filed against him – for disproportionate possession of assets, sedition and abetment to suicide in an incident six years ago. The then DGP set up three inquiry committees into several complaints received from private individuals. All these complaints, strangely, were received within 24 hours – between July 12 and 13, 2021. None of these investigations have been completed till date. The final nail in the proverbial coffin was his forced retirement in July 2023.

He ran from pillar to post, contesting the FIRs, disciplinary action against him and his forced retirement. His condition worsened when he was put behind bars.

Noting that FIRs were filed against him at the “behest of higher authorities of the (then) Chhattisgarh state government” for not toeing their line, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of a Chhattisgarh IPS officer suspended in 2021 within four weeks.

He was initially released on bail because the “fabricated charges” against him were too weak and would not stand up in court. He was accused of owning assets that were disproportionate to his income. However, the assets registered in his name and that of his father were the property of another person. The two kilograms of gold found on the scooter of a co-accused were planted by the police, according to video footage.

The government had challenged the CAT verdict in the Delhi High Court, claiming that the court had failed to consider the allegations against Mr Singh. Singh failed to establish any malice against the government’s order compulsorily retiring him. However, the Supreme Court found the government’s arguments to be baseless and dismissed the petition seeking quashing of the CAT’s orders.