Bhubaneswar: In his first major action against a senior officer, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today suspended senior IPS Officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao for gross misconduct.
Shri Majhi, who is in-charge of Home Department, has suspended Shri Pandit after came to know about an incident that occurred on July 27 night in Bhubaneswar. A serious allegation has been made against Shri Pandit on that night.
After returning from New Delhi last evening, the Chief Minister ordered for immediate suspension of the Shri Pandit, a 2007 batch IPS Officer, who is now serving as DIG, Fire Services & Home Guards, Odisha.
“The Director General of Police, Odisha has submitted a confidential report against Shri Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, IPS(RR–2007), DIG, Fire Services & Home Guards, Odisha on the incident occurred in Capital Police Station jurisdiction on 27.07.24 night, Home Department said in its suspension order.
A disciplinary proceeding against Shri Pandit is contemplated on the grounds of grave misconduct as a Member of the Indian Police Service, it 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 Shri Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao,IPS under suspension with immediate effect,” read the order.
It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, the Headquarters of said Shri Pandit is fixed at the State Police Headquarters, Odisha, Cuttack and he shall not leave the said headquarters without obtaining the permission of the D.G. of Police, Odisha, Cuttack.
The order further said that Shri Pandit is allowed to draw subsistence allowance as admissible to him from time to time under rule 4(1)(a) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules,1969 during the period of suspension.
However, such allowance shall not be paid to him unless he furnishes a certificate that he is not engaged in any other employment, business, profession or vocation as required under rule 4(2) of the said rules, it added.
This is the first such action against an all India rank officer by the BJP government.