Odisha Elections 2024: BJP Moves EC Accusing IPS Officer Of Favouring BJD In Campaigning

Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that a senior IPS officer is working in favour of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha in its campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state in violation of the model code of conduct.

A delegation of the Odisha unit of the BJP visited the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bhubaneswar and submitted a petition addressed to the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing IPS officer D S Kutey of favouring the ruling BJD in election campaigning.

Stating that the IPS officer has been working in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) as Special Secretary for the last nine years, BJP claimed that he has been threatening the public officers, mainly SPs and IICs to favour BJD in various ways including transport and distribution of cash.

No comment could be immediately obtained from the IPS officer or the CMO regarding the allegations made by the saffron party.

Police does not register FIR on complaints filed by opposition political parties whereas promptly does the same and action is taken when a complaint is filed by the members of the BJD, it claimed.

The saffron party said if the call records of the officer are monitored and studied, it will reveal as to how he is monitoring the election campaign of BJD. Kutey directly did politics and political activities, and hence committed an offence under Section 129 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, BJP alleged.

In its letter, BJP urged the ECI to order thorough study and analysis of call records of these officers and restrain them from political activities. It also urged the commission to take legal action against the IPS officer and transfer him to other state.