Patna, April 8: Returning from long leave, Bihar cadre IPS officer M. Sunil Naik recently reported to the state police headquarters and put to rest the speculation over he quitting the IPS and starting a new career. He is waiting for posting.

Till he gets a field posting, he would not get salary. For, the home department rejected his leave request and he has been showcaused for overstaying.

Known as a no nonsense officer in the police circles, the 2005 batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh had proceeded on “protest leave” on January 17, two days after attending the annul prize distribution function of the police at the Gandhi Maidan on January 15. He went to his home state soon after.

Naik was shocked to learn that his request to extend his leave for three months with effect from January 25 was turned down by the home department. Sources said Naik had been served a showcause notice for overstaying.

“He (Naik) has been asked to reply to the showcause notice within four weeks of the receipt of the letter,” a senior IPS officer posted at the police headquarters said. Naik, who pursued his IIT from Chennai before joining the IPS, may have to face departmental proceedings if his reply is found to be dissatisfactory.

A senior IPS officer of Bihar cadre, Shafi Alam, had confronted a similar situation. “Departmental proceedings were initiated against him for proceeding on leave and going abroad in anticipation that his application for leave would be accepted,” the police officer pointed out.

But the difference between the two cases is the time of applying for leave. Alam had submitted his leave application almost two months before going on leave. Naik, on the other hand, sent his application for extending his leave from Andhra Pradesh through fax.

Alam later moved CAT (central administrative tribunal), which quashed the departmental proceedings.

Sources said Naik had proceeded on “protest leave” after he was allegedly pressured to arrest about 40 innocent persons in connection with Hiranmar diara incident during his posting as the superintendent of police (SP) of Munger.

The list was reportedly furnished to him from an unexpected quarter. Naik decided not to fulfil the “unethical demand” made after the killing of 13 persons in Hiranmar diara in December last year. Sources close to Naik said he was under tremendous pressure after the carnage, which occurred on the borders of Munger, Lakhisarai and Jamui districts.