Odisha govt suspends IPS officer for misbehaving with woman officer – What’s the case all about?

The Odisha government on Tuesday suspended senior IPS officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, a 2007-batch official, for allegedly misusing his position, according to an official statement. Uttamrao was serving as DIG, Fire Services & Home Guards, Odisha.

“A complaint has been received, alleging that Pandit has disgraced the dignity of his position by misusing his power last Saturday (July 27) night,” an issued statement by the chief minister’s office (CMO) claimed.

What is the case all about?

Pandit was accused of misbehaving with a woman police inspector and her husband on July 27. Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh stated that police action would be taken if a complaint is lodged regarding the incident. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took immediate action upon returning from a four-day visit to New Delhi on Monday evening, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Majhi ordered the relevant department to suspend the “errant senior police officer” and take appropriate action against him. Following this order, the IPS officer has been suspended, the statement added.

Odisha’s Home Department issued a notification regarding the suspension, stating that the Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha, had submitted a confidential report against Pandit concerning the incident under the jurisdiction of the Capital Police station on July 27.

A disciplinary proceeding against Pandit is being considered on the grounds of grave misconduct as a member of the Indian Police Service (IPS), the notification said.

“Now, therefore, the Government of Odisha, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby places the said Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, IPS under suspension with immediate effect,” read the notification.

During the suspension period, Pandit’s headquarters are fixed at the state police headquarters in Cuttack, Odisha, and he cannot leave the headquarters without the DGP’s permission.

Pandit has been allowed to draw a subsistence allowance as admissible under the rules during the suspension period. However, he must furnish a certificate stating that he is not engaged in any other employment, business, profession, or vocation to receive the allowance.