Patna: A love marriage that began in 2016 has now become the subject of public attention in Bihar. Pooja Singh, wife of IPS officer Bhanu Pratap Singh, has alleged that she has been kept away from their six-year-old daughter and has appealed to political leaders and the police for help in meeting the child.
In the latest development, Pooja staged a sit-in outside the residence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Patna, seeking his intervention. She has maintained that her primary demand is to meet her daughter and that she does not want to end her marriage.
The controversy has brought attention to the professional journey of Bhanu Pratap Singh, a 2021-batch Bihar-cadre IPS officer who secured All India Rank (AIR) 372 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2020 after five attempts.
Who Is IPS Bhanu Pratap Singh?
Mr Singh is a 2021-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Bihar cadre. Originally from the Fatehpur region of Uttar Pradesh, he holds a postgraduate degree in Hindi Literature, according to the biographical information supplied.
His father served in the Indian Army. Singh has previously spoken about how seeing his father in uniform during childhood inspired him to pursue a career in uniformed service.
He entered the IPS through the UPSC Civil Services Examination and was allotted the Bihar cadre. During his career, he has served as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Muzaffarpur and Danapur before taking up senior district police responsibilities.
He has now been transferred from his position as SP, Khafaria, and directed to report to the Bihar Police Headquarters in Patna.
UPSC Success After Five Attempts: Secured AIR 372
IPS Singh’s journey to the Indian Police Service involved several attempts at the Civil Services Examination.
He appeared for the UPSC examination five times. Although he could not clear his first two attempts, he continued preparing for his goal of joining the civil services.
In his third and fourth attempts, he was selected for other government services, including the Indian Railway Personnel Service and the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. However, he continued to aspire to become an IPS officer.
His efforts eventually paid off in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2020, in which he secured AIR 372 and was selected for the Indian Police Service. He subsequently joined the Bihar cadre.
How Pooja Singh and Bhanu Pratap Singh Met
According to Pooja Singh, she first met Bhanu Pratap Singh in 2015 at a family function in Kolkata. Their friendship gradually developed into a relationship, but their families reportedly did not support their decision to marry.
Pooja has stated that she left her home in Kolkata and moved to Bharatpur to be with Bhanu Pratap. Despite opposition from their families, the couple got married on January 16, 2016.
After marriage, Pooja worked as a teacher at a private school in Bharatpur for around five years. During this period, she also supported her husband’s preparations for the civil services examination.
The couple welcomed a daughter in 2020.
Wife Alleges Relationship Changed After IPS Selection
Pooja Singh has alleged that differences in their relationship increased after Bhanu Pratap Singh was selected for the IPS.
According to her, she supported him when he was preparing for the civil services examination, but their relationship deteriorated after he became an IPS officer. She has also alleged that she was pressured to separate from her husband and is now being prevented from meeting their daughter.
Pooja has said that her husband wants a divorce, whereas she wishes to preserve the marriage. She has emphasised that she does not want to harm his career or professional standing.
Her primary demand, according to her statements, is to be allowed to meet her daughter and remain in contact with her.
These allegations have not been independently verified. Bhanu Pratap Singh’s response to the claims was not available in the supplied account.
Pooja Singh Earlier Approached Police in Bharatpur
Before staging the protest in Patna, Pooja Singh reportedly travelled to Bharatpur in Rajasthan to meet her daughter.
She alleged that she went to her in-laws’ residence and knocked on the door for a long time, but nobody opened it. She also claimed that she subsequently visited her sister-in-law’s residence but could not meet anyone there.
Following these incidents, she approached the Mathura Gate police station and submitted a complaint against her husband and his family, alleging that she was being kept away from her daughter.
According to Pooja, the police contacted Bhanu Pratap Singh over the phone. However, she claimed that no immediate action followed because the matter was considered a domestic dispute. She reportedly remained at the police station until late at night.
Pooja Seeks Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary’s Intervention
The dispute has now drawn attention in Patna, where Pooja Singh staged a sit-in outside the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Addressing him as “Bhaiya”, she appealed for his intervention and help in meeting her six-year-old daughter, who, according to her, is currently staying with her father.
Pooja described the Deputy Chief Minister as her last hope and said that her immediate concern was to see her child.
Following information about the protest, Patna Police reached the spot and took Pooja with them.
She reiterated that she had not initiated divorce proceedings and that her demand was primarily to be allowed to meet her daughter.
What Is Known About the Dispute So Far?
The dispute has become a matter of public discussion because of Pooja’s allegations and her repeated appeals to meet her daughter. However, the complete circumstances behind the marital differences remain unclear.
Her account includes allegations of harassment, denial of access to the child and pressure to end the marriage. The IPS officer’s version of events has not been available in the material supplied.
For now, Pooja says she wants to meet her daughter and hopes to resolve the differences with her husband. How the matter progresses will depend on the response of the concerned authorities and the steps taken by both parties.
