Rajasthan’s outspoken 2009-batch IPS officer, Pankaj Chaudhary, has once again triumphed in a protracted legal battle against the state government. Known for his fearless stance against those in power—whether during Vasundhara Raje’s or Ashok Gehlot’s tenure—Chaudhary has faced repeated disciplinary actions, including charge sheets and even dismissal. Yet, each time, he has successfully challenged these measures in court.
The latest chapter in this saga unfolded on February 12, 2025, when the Department of Personnel issued a demotion order against him under the current Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government. Chaudhary contested the decision before the Jaipur bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ruled in his favor, quashing the order. The tribunal noted that the demotion—based on personal family matters—lacked legal merit.
The controversy arose from allegations that Chaudhary had remarried without formally divorcing his first wife. A charge sheet had been filed during the Vasundhara Raje administration, prompting a departmental inquiry. However, Chaudhary argued that his personal life was being unfairly politicized, emphasizing that the Allahabad High Court had already ruled in his favor regarding the divorce. He questioned the repeated revival of a settled matter.
While five of his 2009 IPS batchmates—including Shweta Dhankar, Kunwar Rashtradeep, Preeti Jain, Ajay Singh, and Yogesh Yadav—were promoted to DIG rank two years ago, Chaudhary’s promotion was stalled. Instead, he faced demotion over the disputed family issue—a decision now overturned by the tribunal, paving the way for his overdue promotion to Inspector General (IG).
Chaudhary has accused certain IAS and IPS officers of harboring personal vendettas and misleading the government, resulting in unjust actions against him. Over the past decade, he claims to have faced six punitive measures, each time vindicated by the courts.
