The Haryana government on Tuesday transferred senior IAS officer VS Kundu, over a month after state Bharatiya Janata Party President Subhash Barala’s son Vikas was arrested for stalking his daughter Varnika. VS Kundu, who had been overseeing the Haryana Tourism Department, has been posted as the additional chief secretary of the state Science and Technology Department, The Indian Express reported.
“It is up to the government where it deputes me keeping in view my capabilities,” the bureaucrat told the daily “I don’t have any problem with it. I never tried to stop my transfer order.”
Later in the day, Varnika Kundu said she is not sure if the transfer is because of the stalking case. “But if it is, then it is as ineffective as the people who victim shamed me,” she told ANI.
The transfer order does not mention the government’s reason to move Kundu to a new post, the report said. The development came hours after a Chandigarh court denied Vikas Barala bail in the stalking case.
Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar were arrested on August 9 for stalking and trying to abduct Varnika Kundu on the night of August 4, when she was driving to Panchkula from Chandigarh.
On August 5, they were arrested but released on bail within hours as the police had charged them with stalking and wrongful restraint, which are both bailable offences. They were later charged with attempted abduction, which is a non-bailable offence, and were denied bail on August 29, as well.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!