The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) announced on Tuesday that it is revoking the suspension of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bidhan Chandra Patra, who had been suspended for about three months following allegations that he shared social‑media content calling for a change in the government during the passage of the 2026 Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill. The order, issued by the CRPF headquarters, states that the suspension is being withdrawn with immediate effect.
The CRPF’s decision came after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had considered the merits of the case and directed the force to lift the suspension on August 27. The order also notes that the period of suspension, which began on June 18, will be regularised once the pending inquiry into the officer is finalised. Patra, a 1994‑batch CRPF cadre officer who returned to the force in April after a deputation with the National Security Guard, had been suspended under clauses of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965.
The charges against Patra centre on alleged audio‑visual and pictorial material posted on social‑media platforms that supposedly urged a change of the lawfully elected government during the bill’s passage. The CAPF Bill, which became law after receiving presidential assent in April, has sparked controversy among cadre officers who argue that its provisions are oppressive and discriminatory. They contend that the bill would prevent them from advancing beyond their current ranks unless Indian Police Service (IPS) deputations are curtailed as directed by a Supreme Court order last year.
CAPF cadre officers have previously protested the suspension, claiming it was hasty and illegal, and have urged the government to address their concerns. The Centre has appealed against the Supreme Court’s rejection of the officers’ petition, and the court is currently hearing a contempt petition filed by the cadre officers regarding the government’s compliance with the May 2025 order that limits IPS deputations up to the Inspector General rank. The government maintains that the Act aims to establish a unified legal framework for service conditions across the Central Armed Police Forces, replacing the fragmented regime that currently governs cadre officers and deputed IPS personnel.
