After DM’s suicide, PCS officer’s letter to Chief Secretary against IAS officer triggers political storm
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 22,2026
SDM, Baghapurana Babandeep Singh Walia letter against DC Moga Sagar Setia, IAS to chief secretary Punjab has created ruckus in the state bureaucracy and politics. The letter was written on March 22,2026 at early morning 3:13 am, is shared by almost all political party leaders.
In the Baghapurana Block Samiti elections, SDM Walia reportedly flagged in his communication to the chief secretary “that the prevailing atmosphere was not conducive to free and fair elections due to intense political interference”
The SDM has written a letter to chief secretary under subject” Complaint regarding extreme harassment, mental agony and torture at the hands of Sh Sagar setia , IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Moga, in connection with the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson elections of Baghapurana Panchayat Samiti.”
After the letter surfaced, a sparking sharp reaction from Opposition leaders and raising questions over administrative functioning has rise the political temperature.
Walia said “I have been subjected to continuous and undue harassment at the hands of Sh. Sagar Setia, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Moga. I am being repeatedly called for multiple meetings and contacted persistently through phone calls, creating an atmosphere of pressur and intimidation. I have also been called incessantly, including at odd night hours and even on days when I was on duly sanctioned leave, further aggravating the harassment and mental strain. At times, the intensity of such pressure has been such that I have had to switch off my phone in order to cope with and absorb the stress being imposed upon me. It is most respectfully submitted that such actions appear to be influenced by extraneous considerations, with an intent to compel declaration of election results in favour of particular candidate(s), which is contrary to the principles of free and fair elections and administrative propriety.”
“Further, I have been subjected to a series of threatening communications, including calls carrying implicit and explicit threats to my personal safety and life. There also appears to be a concerted attempt to initiate backlash in the form of disciplinary proceedings, inquiries, and the threat of FIRs, including through vigilance channels, in collusion with certain other functionaries. I submit that I shall produce concrete corroborative evidence in this regard during the course of any inquiry, as and when required.”
“The cumulative effect of these actions has caused me severe mental stress, agony and emotional distress. The situation has reached such an extent that distressing thoughts regarding my own safety and the fate of my family and child have repeatedly crossed my mind, reflecting the extreme pressure under which I have been placed. “
In view of the above, I most humbly request the following:
- A fair and impartial inquiry into the entire sequence of events and the conduct of the concerned officers/functionaries.
- Immediate intervention to ensure that undue pressure, harassment and intimidation is
stopped forthwith.
- Provision of adequate protection to my life and safeguards against any form of backlash.
- Suitable action against those found responsible for misuse of authority and intimidation.
- Consideration of grant of one month’s leave to me, in view of the extreme mental stress and trauma undergone during this period.
- That I may kindly be transferred out of Moga to another station in order to ensure a fair environment and to escape any undue influence.
I submit this representation with utmost respect, seeking protection of administrative fairness, personal safety, dignity of public service, and security against any retaliatory actions.
Deputy Commissioner Moga Sagar Setia while giving statement to media has denied allegations of exerting any pressure on SDM Baghapurana Babandeep Singh Walia in connection with the Block Samiti elections. Clarifying his position, the DC stated that he had received only a brief, two-line communication from the SDM on March 18, informing him that the election for the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman held on March 17 could not be completed due to a law-and-order situation.
