EC revokes suspension of Odisha IPS officer DS Kutey, suggests action against Ashish Singh |

Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has lifted the suspension of senior Odisha state IPS officer DS Kutey and proposed action against another officer, Ashish Kumar Singh, for making false statements about his health condition.

While Kutey, the special secretary to the Chief Minister of Odisha, was suspended by the ECI on May 28 for “undue interference in the conduct of the election”, the commission had ordered a medical examination of Singh by a special medical panel of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Singh, who was IG (CM Security), had been on sick leave since May 4. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha on June 6, the ECI said the report of the special medical panel of AIIMS Bhubaneswar had declared Singh physically and mentally fit. Since it was a case of misrepresentation of facts by the IPS officer, the commission ordered that the report of the special medical panel of AIIMS Bhubaneswar be forwarded to the Chief Secretary so that he can take necessary action against the officer if he is found fit.

Regarding Kutey, the commission said his suspension should be lifted with immediate effect on the condition that the other directions in its May 28 letter continue as per the existing rules. Any internal departmental proceedings could be decided only with the approval of the commission, it said. Kutey could report to the Chief Secretary for further postings, if appropriate, it added.

While suspending Kutey for undue interference in the conduct of the election, the ECI had said, “His headquarters shall be the office of the Resident Commissioner Odisha in New Delhi where he will report at 3 pm on May 29. The Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha will submit the draft charge sheet against Kutey to the Chief Secretary of Odisha and the Chief Secretary of Odisha will prepare the charge sheet as per relevant service rules by 5 pm on May 30.” Similarly, the commission had directed Singh, who was on sick leave since May 4, to undergo a detailed medical examination by a special medical panel constituted by the Director, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. “The CEO will ensure that the Director, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar constitutes a special medical panel to ascertain illness and treatment. A report in this regard should be submitted to the commission by May 31,” it said.