Notice to state on Virk's extension order

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Maharashtra government on a petition challenging its appointment of SS Virk as the state police chief despite his controversial service record and a corruption case pending against him in Punjab.

A bench of Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam also issued notices to the central and Punjab governments on a petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), which also questioned the Maharashtra government���s July 2009 decision to extend Mr Virk���s tenure by three months.

The CPIL petition contended that Mr Virk was appointed Maharahstra police chief despite the fact that he is ���facing two departmental proceedings against him in the Punjab police for his series of misconducts committed while on deputation there. The Punjab government has also indicted him in a criminal-cum-corruption case, which is pending in the trial court of Mohali,��� the petition notes.

Listing several acts of omission and commission by Mr Virk, the former Punjab police chief, senior counsel Prashant Bhushan, in his petition said that ���during his tenure on deputation in Punjab, Mr Virk repeatedly lied and concealed information in his annual property returns submitted to the government and misused his official position and flouted all rules and regulations to acquire assets.���

���He constructed and managed an illegal resort-cum-night club without intimation to the government,��� said Mr Bhushan adding that ���Virk had opened about 35 bank accounts under fictitious names in violation of the RBI guidelines.���

According to him, Mr Virk also indulged in financial transactions of unaccounted black money for the purpose of funding of elections.