Patna: Bihar IPS officer Aditya Kumar has not received relief from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in a case involving allegations that the then Director General of Police, S.K. Singhal, was contacted through a phone call made in the name of the Patna High Court Chief Justice.
The CAT’s Patna Bench has declined to quash the departmental proceedings against Kumar and directed the Bihar government to complete the inquiry within six months.
The tribunal also instructed the authorities to provide the officer with a fair opportunity to defend himself during the proceedings. It clarified that the inquiry should not remain pending indefinitely, even if the officer does not cooperate.
The bench comprised Judicial Member Justice Narendra Kumar Johri and Administrative Member Kumar Rajesh Chandra.
CAT Says Departmental Inquiry Can Continue Alongside Criminal Proceedings
The tribunal observed that the pendency of criminal proceedings does not prevent the state government from independently examining allegations of misconduct through departmental action.
Kumar had challenged a departmental charge sheet issued on March 25, 2025, seeking its cancellation. He also requested consideration for promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), on a par with eligible junior officers.
The officer had cited delays in issuing the charge sheet and alleged mala fide intent as grounds for challenging the proceedings.
However, the tribunal declined to set aside the departmental action and instead directed the state government to complete the inquiry within the stipulated six-month period.
EOU Registered Case Against Aditya Kumar in 2022
The departmental proceedings followed the registration of a case against Kumar by Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) in 2022.
The case concerns allegations that a telephone call was made to then DGP S.K. Singhal in the name of the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, allegedly to exert pressure in connection with the matter.
The allegations are the subject of legal proceedings, and the CAT’s order concerns the continuation and completion of the departmental inquiry.
Separate Departmental Proceedings Over Negligence Were Closed
In a separate development, the Bihar Home Department recently ended another set of departmental proceedings against Kumar relating to alleged negligence in his official duties.
The earlier action concerned allegations dating back to his tenure as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Gaya. These included allegedly handling a liquor-recovery case inadequately, failing to exercise sufficient control over subordinate police station officials and neglecting responsibilities such as periodic inspections of police stations.
Kumar had approached the CAT’s Patna Bench seeking the cancellation of the charge sheet and inquiry report in that matter.
According to the report, an order issued in August had directed that the inquiry report against him be treated as set aside and that his eligibility for promotion to DIG be considered.
The Home Department subsequently concluded those proceedings, and the department’s police section issued a related resolution last Friday.
The closure of the negligence-related proceedings is separate from the departmental inquiry concerning the alleged phone call in the Chief Justice’s name, which the CAT has now directed the state government to complete within six months.
Aditya Kumar Currently Commands Bihar Special Armed Police-14
Aditya Kumar currently serves as Commandant of Bihar Special Armed Police-14.
The latest CAT order keeps the departmental inquiry concerning the alleged phone call in progress while requiring the state government to conclude it within six months and ensure that Kumar receives a reasonable opportunity to present his defence.
Who Is IPS Officer Aditya Kumar?
Aditya Kumar, born on January 20, 1983, is a 2011-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre, originally from Uttar Pradesh. He holds a B.Tech degree and joined the IPS on December 19, 2011.
During his career, Kumar served as Assistant Inspector General (Rail) in Patna and later as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Gaya in 2021–22. His tenure in Gaya was followed by a separate departmental inquiry concerning allegations of negligence in handling a liquor-related case and supervision of subordinate police personnel. The Bihar Home Department subsequently closed those proceedings in October 2026 following developments before the Central Administrative Tribunal.
Kumar is also facing separate departmental proceedings linked to allegations that a caller impersonated the then Chief Justice of the Patna High Court to contact former Bihar DGP S.K. Singhal. The CAT’s Patna Bench has declined to quash that inquiry and directed the state government to endeavour to complete it within six months, while ensuring that Kumar receives a fair opportunity to defend himself. The allegations remain subject to the relevant proceedings.
Read Also: Who Is Bihar IPS Officer Aditya Kumar? Departmental Proceedings Closed, DIG Promotion in Focus
