A mass transfer of 13 officers has taken place simultaneously at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Jalandhar. Occurring amidst recent actions against prominent politicians in Punjab, this major reshuffle has impacted the department’s operations. Currently, the monitoring of critical cases is being conducted directly from the Delhi headquarters. It is estimated that it may take approximately one month for the situation to return to normalcy.
The Jalandhar ED office has recently witnessed significant administrative changes. Typically, during the annual transfer cycle, only two or three officers are transferred out of a single station. This time, however, 13 officers of various ranks have been transferred out of Jalandhar simultaneously.
Departure Before Completion of Tenure
Surprisingly, among these 13 officers are several who had assumed charge of their duties in Jalandhar just one year ago. The sheer scale and premature nature of these transfers have sparked considerable speculation and discussion both within and outside the department.
Reliance on Additional Charges for Senior Positions
The most senior officer of the Jalandhar Zone, Joint Director Ravi Tewari, has been transferred to Chennai. Following his departure, his successor, Dinesh Puruchuri, is currently holding additional charge of the zone while operating from Delhi. The absence of local leadership has adversely affected administrative stability.
Team Members Transferred to Cities Across the Country
By the end of March, a total of 12 other staff members were also relieved of their duties. This group includes several Assistant Directors who have been transferred to cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Jammu. Additionally, at least five Enforcement Officers (EOs) have also been transferred.
Investigation Pace Slows Down
Officials believe that this major reshuffle has slowed down the pace of ongoing investigations. Although new officers are expected to join from Chandigarh, Jammu, and Bengaluru, it may take 20 to 30 days for the new team to fully settle in and familiarize themselves with the case files.