Dharamsala: The Dharamsala police have registered an FIR against a senior IAS officer serving as the Administrator of the Kangra Central Cooperative (KCC) Bank and seven other senior officials following allegations of caste-based discrimination by a former bank officer.
Allegations of Harassment and Unlawful Dismissal
The complainant, KC Bhardwaj, who retired recently as Deputy General Manager of KCC Bank, alleged that he faced sustained caste-based harassment, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful dismissal. Bhardwaj claimed that the actions of the bank officials caused humiliation, mental trauma, and a deliberate tarnishing of his dignity as a public servant.
“The discrimination I faced was neither isolated nor incidental but part of a systematic and planned attempt to marginalize me professionally and socially,” Bhardwaj stated in his complaint.
He further alleged that the bank officials misused institutional mechanisms to create false narratives against him, which culminated in his dismissal from service—a decision he later challenged in court and obtained a stay.
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Legal Provisions Invoked
The FIR was registered under Section 3(1)(q) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (as amended in 2015). Police officials confirmed that statements of the complainant and other relevant individuals would be recorded, while documentary and electronic evidence would be examined during the investigation.
Officials Named in FIR
The FIR lists the following officials:
- Vinod Kumar – Senior IAS Officer, Administrator of KCC Bank & Commissioner of Dharamsala Division
- Rakesh Sharma – Officiating General Manager
- Amit Gupta – General Manager
- Satvir Singh Minhas – Former General Manager
- Navdeep Mahajan – Deputy General Manager
- Navneet Sharma – Assistant General Manager
- Kashmir Singh Thakur – Senior Manager
- Vineet Kumar – Officer Grade-II
Police clarified that no arrests have been made so far, and all roles will be verified during the investigation.
Calls for Fair and Impartial Probe
While some of the officials named in the FIR stressed that registration of a case does not confirm allegations, Bhardwaj has demanded a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation to ensure justice.
“The prolonged harassment violated my constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity, and caused severe mental distress,” Bhardwaj added.
Next Steps
The Dharamsala police are expected to record statements, examine evidence, and proceed with the investigation in accordance with the law. The case highlights concerns regarding caste-based discrimination in public institutions and the mechanisms in place to address such grievances.
