Bhubaneswar, The newly elected BJP government in Odisha on Thursday transferred IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh, considered close to the BJD leadership, to the Home Department as Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
The order comes a day after the transfer of several senior IAS officers, including G Mathivathanan and R Vineel Krishna, who were considered close to VK Pandian, an aide of former chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.
"Ashish Kumar Singh, IPS, (RR-2004), IGP, CM (Security), is transferred and posted as OSD, Home Department, with immediate effect," a notification said.
Generally, the appointment of an IPS officer as OSD in the home department is treated as a punitive posting, said a retired police officer.
Following a complaint by the Odisha BJP, ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state, the Election Commission on April 2 had transferred eight senior IAS and IPS officers, including Singh, to non-poll duties.
As per the order, Singh was transferred and posted as IG, Chief Minister Security.
Later, the BJP had complained to the Election Commission and alleged that the IPS officer "continues to work in favor of the BJD".
The Election Commission had in May suspended Singh along with another IPS officer D S Kute, who served as special secretary to the CM, for "undue interference in the conduct of elections".
The Election Commission had also directed Singh to appear for a detailed medical examination before a board constituted by the director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as he had been on medical leave for a long time.
In June, the commission had recommended the Odisha government to take action against Singh for "misrepresentation of facts" regarding his health condition.
The order comes a day after the transfer of several senior IAS officers, including G Mathivathanan and R Vineel Krishna, who were considered close to VK Pandian, an aide of former chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.
"Ashish Kumar Singh, IPS, (RR-2004), IGP, CM (Security), is transferred and posted as OSD, Home Department, with immediate effect," a notification said.
Generally, the appointment of an IPS officer as OSD in the home department is treated as a punitive posting, said a retired police officer.
Following a complaint by the Odisha BJP, ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state, the Election Commission on April 2 had transferred eight senior IAS and IPS officers, including Singh, to non-poll duties.
As per the order, Singh was transferred and posted as IG, Chief Minister Security.
Later, the BJP had complained to the Election Commission and alleged that the IPS officer "continues to work in favor of the BJD".
The Election Commission had in May suspended Singh along with another IPS officer D S Kute, who served as special secretary to the CM, for "undue interference in the conduct of elections".
The Election Commission had also directed Singh to appear for a detailed medical examination before a board constituted by the director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as he had been on medical leave for a long time.
In June, the commission had recommended the Odisha government to take action against Singh for "misrepresentation of facts" regarding his health condition.
