With just three days to go for the final round of voting in Odisha on June 1, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday suspended IPS officer DS Quttey and ordered a medical check-up for another police officer, Ashish Singh, who is on leave.
In a letter to the Odisha CEO, the ECI said 1997-batch IPS officer DS Kuttey, who is currently working as special secretary to the state chief minister, should be suspended for “interfering” with the conduct of elections.
According to the letter, during the period of suspension, Kuttei’s base will be fixed at the office of the Resident Commissioner of Odisha in New Delhi and he should report to work by 3 pm on Wednesday.
In the case of Ashish Singh, a 2010 batch IPS officer, currently posting as IG (CM Security) and on sick leave since May 4, he will have to appear in person for a detailed examination by a special medical committee constituted by the Director AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, no later than May 30, 2024.
The ECI also asked the CEO to coordinate and ensure that the Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar constitutes a committee to ascertain Singh’s illness and treatment.
The medical examination report is expected to reach the committee by May 31, 2024, the ECI said.
Separately, the ECI also ordered a speedy due process investigation into the case against BJP MLA candidate Prashant Jagdev for allegedly damaging an EVM at a polling booth.
Jagdev was arrested on May 26 for allegedly damaging an election commissioner’s office during the third phase of voting in the state on May 25.
