IPS Officer GL Singhal's VRS Plea Accepted; was Embroiled In Ishrat Jahan Encounter Case; Teenage Son Had Died Of Suicide In 2012

Ahmadabad: GL Singhal, one of the much talked about IPS officers of Gujarat, is once again in the news. Singhal, who became an IPS after being promoted from the Gujarat State Police Service, has taken pre-mature retirement. Singhal had applied for retirement three months ago. 

Teenage son died of suicide in 2012

After police service, he is likely to be active in social service in the coming days. Singhal wants to work by forming an NGO to prevent suicides. In 2012 his son Hardik Singhal had died of suicide. 

Hardik, the 17-year-old son of IPS officer GL Singhal, committed suicide at his residence in Ahmedabad in July 2012. The boy hung himself in his room on the first floor of the bungalow. Police said that Hardik committed suicide owing to academic pressure. 

I will live my life on a daily basis: Singhal

Currently with his daughter in Bengaluru, Singhal has been heading the Commando Training Center in Kalal, as Inspector General of Police for the past five years.

Singhal said that he had tendered VRS application about three months ago which has been approved by the administrator and he will call it a day on August 3. When asked about his future plans, the IPS officer said that “I will live my life on a daily basis.”

Was made an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case

GL Singhal came into limelight when he was made an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. Singhal had joined the police service in 1996 as a Gujarat-cadre officer. 

He was embroiled in controversies after his name figured in the Ishrat Jahan encounter. His name cropped up in many other cases. Had to stay in the clutches of CBI as well. Due to this, his police service was suspended midway.

The government has accepted his request for retirement. Probably August 5 will be his last working day.

Earned image of an encounter specialist

After the Ishrat Jahan case, IPS GS Singhal's image became that of  an encounter specialist police officer. He was the first police officer arrested in this case. After this, he remained under suspension for 14 months and had to go to jail.  He was reinstated in January 2015 after his arrest on 21 February 2013.

He was finally acquitted by the CBI court in April 2021. Then the court had said that the action of the police was on the line of duty. Originally hailing from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, GS Singhal has studied M.Com with B.Com.

On April 21 this year, Singhal sent a letter to the Director General of Police seeking permission for voluntary retirement. He had completed more than 22 years of government service. On 11 May, the Additional Director General of Police (Administration) informed the Home Secretary about Singhal's intention to retire prematurely and that there was no vigilance inquiry or criminal case against him.