EC removes Punjab DGP, appoints Vigilance DG in his place

His request has since been accepted by the Commission.  

The Commission had earlier sought a three-member panel of officers from the state government for replacing Saini. The officials in the panel were Punjab DG Home Guard G D Pandey, DG, Security Sanjiv Gupta and Arora.

The state goes to polls on April 30.

Congress and other parties had demanded removal of Saini ahead of the Lok Sabha polls based on the number of complaints pending against him.

They had sought his removal to ensure a free, fair and peaceful polls.

Saini was appointed as Punjab DGP by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The EC had earlier transferred a number of other officers.

Saini is not the first top police officer in Punjab to be removed ahead of elections, as the former DGP S S Virk was removed during the 2007 Assembly polls in the state.