From Supercop to Politician: Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh’s Journey, Now a New Political Turn in the BJP

November 3, 2026

Amritsar: For many years, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was a highly regarded officer in the Punjab Police, tasked by the state government and even the judiciary with investigating sensitive and high-profile cases. Later, he left the police uniform and entered politics. Upon joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he presented himself as an outsider whose mission was to clean up the system and break the alleged nexus between politicians, police officers, and gangsters.

As a police officer, Kunwar was known for his investigations as well as his ability to negotiate and compromise. He preferred to sit among protesters and listen to them rather than resorting to immediate lathicharge during demonstrations. His outspoken style remained intact even after entering politics. He took on leaders within his own party on numerous issues and even questioned Raghav Chadha, who recently became a BJP MP.

Police career began in Amritsar, held several important positions

1998 batch IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh began his career as an ASP in Amritsar in December 1999. Amritsar shaped his professional life, and many years later, the city also became his political constituency.

During his career, he held important positions such as SP (City), SSP, DIG of Ludhiana and Jalandhar Range, Police Commissioner of Jalandhar and Ludhiana, DIG Border Range, and IG Special Task Force. While serving as SSP of Amritsar, he is credited with developing the ‘Amritsar Model’ for community policing.

The first major case of his career came to light in 2002. Kunwar, then posted as SP (City) in Amritsar, exposed a gang involved in the illegal trade of organs. On September 21, 2002, his team arrested 12 donors and two middlemen. The investigation expanded to Jalandhar and Ludhiana, and the case became one of Punjab’s major scams.

OCCU’s Key Role in Action Against Gangsters

To curb gangsters and organized crime, the Punjab government formed the Organized Crime Control Unit (OCCU) in January 2018. Kunwar took charge of this unit as IG. Under his leadership, the OCCU became one of the police’s key units against organized crime.

A gold robbery case in Ludhiana exemplified the unit’s work ethic. Acting on a tip-off, the OCCU team surrounded the main accused in the market and captured him without giving him a chance to fire. During the operation, approximately ₹3.1 million in cash, a pistol, and live cartridges were recovered. Following this, the DGP announced a reward for the team members.

The unit also conducted operations to apprehend wanted criminals in various districts. In one case, a Ludhiana gangster was apprehended near Chandigarh after the arrest of his accomplice. Additionally, a gang that evaded phone interception using wireless handsets was also exposed. Kunwar’s unit was also tasked with overseeing prosecutions in serious cases against gangsters.

He also played a key role during the Pathankot terror attack

On January 2, 2016, terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station. Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who was the DIG of the area at the time, became the main face of the Punjab Police during this crisis. The NSG and the Army commanded the search operation in the large area surrounding the airbase, while the state police’s operations in the district were coordinated through his office. He had previously overseen several counter-terrorism operations in border areas.

However, his most controversial and politically sensitive assignment was investigating the alleged nexus between politicians and gangsters. In November 2019, the then Captain Amarinder Singh government directed the police to investigate this alleged connection. Kunwar led the investigation, titled ‘Alleged Nexus Between Politicians and Gangsters,’ along with a DIG and an AIG. Its report was made public in February 2020.

Widespread Recognition for the Investigation of Sacrilege and Kotkapura Firings

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh gained widespread recognition for his investigations into the 2015 sacrilege incidents and the subsequent police firings in Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura.

In November 2018, he issued summons under Section 160 of the CrPC to former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal, and actor Akshay Kumar for questioning. Akshay Kumar later joined the investigation.

In February 2019, the SIT arrested IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal. Kunwar publicly accused him of misleading investigators. Another high-profile incident occurred during this period when he visited Badal’s Chandigarh residence to question the former Chief Minister.

Akali leaders also launched a campaign against him, filing complaints with the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Election Commission of India. In April 2019, the Election Commission removed him from the OCCU following a complaint alleging violations of the Model Code of Conduct. However, the then Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, dismissed these allegations as false and reappointed him as IG, OCCU within a month.

On April 9, 2021, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the SIT investigation. The court questioned the investigation’s methodology and ordered the formation of a new team without Kunwar.