Bhubaneswar: Former minister and senior leader of Odisha Bijoy Mohapatra on Friday accused the state government of striking a deal with Odisha-cadre IPS officers Ashish Kumar Singh and DS Kutey for sending them on Central deputation.
Addressing the media in Bhubaneswar, Mohapatra said the two IPS officers, who faced grave charges, have been rewarded by the government with questionable intentions.
“Perhaps this is for the first time in Odisha that no chargesheet has been filed nor enquiry officers appointed to verify the charges against the two IPS officers. On the other hand, they have been sent on Central deputation. It implies that the two officers are innocent,” he said.
Mohapatra further said though the charges against Singh were not so serious, there were evidences against Kutey. “Even the Odisha BJP leaders had reacted strongly and threatened strong actions against them. They had said the prison doors are open for the duo. Even now they continue to speak in similar line. But the government’s actions are just opposite,” he added.
He also questioned the clarification by the BJP leaders on the matter. “They (Odisha BJP leaders) clarified that the Centre wanted the two officers to go on deputation to Delhi and the state government only complied. But why did not the Odisha government apprise their Central leadership about their earlier charges against the two officers,” he asked.
Taking dig at their former party leaders, Mohapatra said, “Was there a deal? Because in the last 30-40 years, there was never such instance. Even a BJP MLA (Prashant Jagdev) suffered and a complaint was lodged against him. But that too was overlooked. Not that the officer could have been hung if found guilty, but the minimum action as per the law could have been taken”.
Expressing his concern, Mohapatra, who was part of the saffron party earlier, said, “The Chief Minister himself should clear the air. Because he holds the Home portfolio, okayed their names for Central deputation and even signed the NOCs for their deputations.”
Earlier, senior IPS officer Dhirendra Sambhaji Kutey, who was suspended by the Election Commission for ‘unduly interfering’ in the Odisha polls and later reinstated, was appointed as Inspector General (IG) of Border Security Force (BSF), as per an official order on December 6.
Similarly, IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh was appointed as Inspector General, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on the same day.
Kutey and Singh, posted as OSDs at the Home Department, had faced the Election Commission’s ire after the state CEO in a report mentioned “undue influence being exercised by the two senior IPS officers”.
Reacting to Mohapatra’s charges, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said, “It was not expected from a veteran leader like Mohapatra to target a new government in Odisha so soon. He is totally confused. He targeted the BJD and its president Naveen Patnaik for years. But since his son was given a BJD ticket in the last elections, he has now changed his stand.”
