A date with Top Cop Bhagwan Lal Soni

Bhagwan Lal Soni, a 1988 batch IPS officer, was the Pink Cityʼs first commissioner of police. Considered as one of the most effective and efficient officers by the IPS lobby, Soni had been on field postings during most of his service and served as the superintendent of police (SP) in Bundi, Jaisalmer, Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Jaipur (north), Jaipur (south) and Jaipur (rural). A cup of tea warmed our chat with him at his office in Jaipur, when he was still the Pink Cityʼs Police Commissioner

When we meet Mr Bhagwan Lal Soni in his office, we are aware of the high voltage job he is assigned. Jaipur is tense with a public agitation that day but Mr Soni is calm and relaxed as he welcomes us to his office at the impressive police headquarters. Reminiscing about his childhood, he reveals, “I grew up in a small village 90 kilometres away from Jodhpur. We did not have electricity or proper water supply. There was a well 30 kilometres away from my home. But we had a school. It was a primary school which after some time graduated to a high school. I was educated here till Class Eight and then I went to study in Jodhpur.”

After graduating, MrSoni took his IPS exams. What motivated him was his background as a Scouts and NCC cadet when he was a student. Nobody in his family was in the police service. But he felt he could face the challenges of his job as a police officer.

As he says, “There canʼt be individual priorities for me as the commissioner of police. I am still very much part of the system. But I will ensure that the priorities of the state government and the police headquarters are followed precisely. Besides, I would like to sensitize the police force to peopleʼs problems. I would like to ensure that at the police station level, victims get proper response and speedy justice. Earlier, to get many things done, people had to go from one office to another. But it would be easier with the new system as the police department will be the only agency to approach. It will also fix responsibility on the police department in case of any malpractice. The system will now have maximum impact on the police functioning as the powers of many sections of CrPC will be handed over to the commissioner. With this, things will be more streamlined. It may take a while to educate the masses, but we will try our best to expedite matters. We will put up notice boards at the district collectorate office and in courts telling people that for a particular work, they will now have to approach the particular branch of the police department. Media will also play its part for this purpose by giving information.” 

Away from his high pressure job, Mr Soni reiterates, “There are three things that give my energy a boost. Firstly, I strongly believe in God. I go to pray at the temple of Govindji. I feel that he spreads happiness everywhere. Secondly, it is my family who are my greatest strength. In any crisis they are always with me. I know I cannot give them adequate time but they are a great support to me when I need it. Thirdly, it is my friends and my colleagues. I am so fortunate that wherever I have been posted I have always had such wonderful companions and co-workers. They are much better human beings than I am. They have always been by my side when I have needed them.”

Music is another stress-buster. Mr Soni enjoys vintage Bollywood music from the Fifties and Sixties and also likes devotional music. He divulges that he likes to sing once in a while! Mr Soniʼs food habits are simple and nothing gives him more pleasure than home-made food.

By Pratap Singh
Photo : Babu Sarkar