While Asa Nand alleges that his suspension is an aftermath of his refusal to "toe the discriminatory line adopted by some officials against his conscience", an official release asserts that the "DSP has been penalised for serious lapses in sensitive criminal cases and actions aimed at helping the accused".

According to the Administration, "Asa Nand's explanation was called and considered carefully by the disciplinary authority, which found that there is no other explanation for Asa Nand's misconduct except that he has been won over by the accused who are moneyed and influential."

The Administration has also taken a strong note of the suspended DSP's statements to the media. "It is a frustration of a dishonest man on being chased by authorities for his wrongdoings," says UT Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta. "If at all he was being pressured, as per his allegations, why did he not contact the high-ups during the course of duty?" she adds.

According to the official press release, major penalty proceedings are being recommended in the chargesheet against Asa Nand for deliberately trying to delay the submission of the challan in court, besides other allegations.

The suspension orders reportedly followed Asa Nand's letter, dated December 30, to the Administration, seeking repatriation to his parent Police Department. The DSP, sources reveal, had written that his conscience did not allow him to serve with the Vigilance Cell anymore.

Seeking a CBI probe into the kickbacks case being probed by the Vigilance Cell, Asa Nand alleges, "I was harassed for protesting against the Administration's attitude. They did not want me to arrest the co-accused in the case. Let there be a judicial inquiry or a CBI probe to unearth the truth."

Officials in the Administration, however, allege that Asa Nand had proceeded on a five-day leave from December 21 last year without the knowledge of his seniors, ignoring the fact that the challan had to be submitted on December 27.

"In fact, his representation seeking a return to the Police Department was an afterthought. Having flopped in his designs and sensing action for the lapses, he submitted the letter," a senior official told Newsline. "We have con-crete evidence in hand against the DSP," it was added.

Asa Nand had been in the Vigilance wing for the past over two years.Investigations into the three FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, registered in cases allegedly involving suspended chief engineer K.K. Jerath, were being carried out by the Cell under him. While investigations into the first two FIRs are underway, the challan in FIR number 3 --pertaining to the allocation of work at the Sector 32 GMC -- has already been submitted in court.