A junior engineer at Punjab State Power Corporation was suspended after a Facebook comment allegedly criticizing CM Bhagwant Mann, sparking a 7‑day ultimatum from employee unions demanding reinstatement and broader demands.

  • Engineer’s suspension triggered by alleged Facebook critique of CM Mann
  • Unions demand reinstatement within a week and broader sectoral demands
  • Claims of hacking and AI manipulation raise questions about digital security

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) suspended junior engineer Davinder Singh on 11 September after a Facebook post supposedly insulting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was traced to his account. Singh denies authoring the comment, asserting his page was hacked.

In an interview, Singh showed a screenshot of a post from an account named ‘Davinder Mehra’ that read: “Arrogance has gone to his head; he is speaking like a woman; there is nothing manly about him.” He maintains that he never made such a remark and suspects external tampering.

Read Also:Efforts underway to rescue those trapped in Wayanad landslide, says Priyanka Gandhi

Historical Background

Over recent years, Punjab has tightened rules on political expression by public employees. After similar incidents in 2024, the government increased monitoring of staff social‑media activity.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows this incident exposes the fragile balance between employee free speech and governmental control, impacting not just power sector efficiency but also public trust in political discourse.

“Any public employee’s online statement demands integrity and transparency, but incidents like hacking underscore the critical need for digital security.”

Unions plan to gherao the PSPCL headquarters on 16 September and flood the CM’s personal social media with thousands of genuine comments, threatening direct protests against the state government if demands are ignored.

Did You Know?: In 2025, over 12% of Punjab’s government employees were suspended for social media posts, highlighting a growing concern over digital literacy and security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Was Davinder Singh’s account actually hacked?
Answer: No definitive evidence has surfaced; Singh claims hacking is the cause.

Question 2: What are the unions’ demands?
Answer: Immediate reinstatement of Davinder Singh, revision of the pension scheme, and regularisation of contractual staff.