Senior Odisha cops face EC ire: Who are D S Kutey, Ashish Kumar Singh?

The Election Commission’s (EC) action against two senior IPS officers in Odisha has triggered a political slugfest, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) calling the action “unfortunate” and the BJP hailing it as a “historic move”.

The EC on Tuesday suspended D S Kutey who was serving as special secretary in the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) for “unduly interfering in the conduct of elections”. Inspector General (CM Security) Ashish Kumar Singh who has been on medical leave since May 4 has been directed to be present for a “detailed examination by a special medical board” constituted by the director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

The action has been taken based on the state Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) report in which he made certain averments indicating “undue influence being exercised by the two senior IPS officers”. The poll panel said the comments were corroborated by “various other inputs received from the field from time to time”.

Though the poll panel did not mention the specific charges against Kutey and Singh, official sources told The Indian Express that the action was taken in the case of alleged vandalism of EVMs by BJP’s Khurda Assembly seat candidate Prasant Jagadev during the sixth phase on May 25. Jagadev was arrested the same day, with the BJP alleging that he was framed. The poll panel has ordered an “expeditious investigation” into the case.

On Thursday, Kutey reported to the Resident Commissioner’s office in New Delhi and Singh presented himself before the AIIMS Bhubaneswar medical board.

The BJD has hailed both Kutey and Singh as “outstanding officers” who played a crucial role in controlling Naxalism in the state. BJD leader and former bureaucrat V K Pandian on Wednesday alleged that the action against the two