Bhopal, March 22 – Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav removed Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi and Guna Superintendent of Police (SP) Ankit Soni with immediate effect on Sunday, while also ordering action against several other officials.
SP Ankit Soni was removed following a controversy related to hawala transactions. According to reports, the police had seized around Rs 1 crore from a trader's vehicle, but allegedly returned a portion of the money after accepting a bribe.
The incident drew criticism, leading to an internal probe. Senior officials, including those of DIG rank, are monitoring the investigation.
Following a report from senior police officials, Chief Minister Yadav ordered Soni's removal. Several police personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector and constables, were suspended for their suspected involvement.
Hitika Vasal, currently the Commandant of the 15th Battalion in Indore, has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Police for Guna.
In a separate development, Chief Minister Yadav ordered the removal of Sidhi Collector Swarochit Somvanshi following complaints from public representatives during his visit to the district on Sunday.
During the visit, Chief Minister Yadav interacted with local residents to assess governance and the implementation of government schemes at the ground level.
He reviewed complaints raised by citizens and sought feedback on the functioning of the district administration and various departments.
Acting on the complaints, Chief Minister Yadav also directed the immediate suspension of District Cooperative Bank General Manager P.S. Dhanwal.
The Chief Minister said that further action would be taken based on the complaints received.
"Under the state's commitment to good governance, negligence by officials and employees will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said.
Chief Minister Yadav also expressed displeasure over the slow progress of the under-construction Collectorate building in Sidhi. He directed officials to expedite the work and ensure completion within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards.