Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 13: Putting all speculations to rest, the state government Thursday suspended controversial IPS officer and former Kendrapara SP Satish Gajbhiye for his alleged role in police excesses on people in Kendrapara August 7.
Prior to his removal, the state government had sought a report from Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik on the brutal police actions. The DGP, in his turn, had asked the Central Range IG RP Koche to file a report on this.
Sources said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed the suspension of Gajbhiye based on the report of Koche.
BJD spokesperson and legislator Amar Satpathy, while welcoming the move on behalf of the ruling party, said “The government has taken action against him (Gajbhiye) for police highhandedness, misbehaviour and violation of All India Service Conduct Rules.”
Earlier, the state government had transferred Gajbhiye to police headquarters as officer without duty and had appointed Nitinjit Singh in his place. Gajbhiye allegedly led his men thrashing all and sundry who were protesting against Santosh Raula aka Srimad Sarathi seeking his arrest.
Reliable sources said further actions against Gajbhiye may be initiated as the government has also ordered an inquiry into his alleged illegal acquisition of land.
“Prima-facie evidence points out that he was involved in the violence. He was suspended to ensure a smooth investigation. Further actions may be initiated against him depending on other inquiry reports,” excise and cooperation minister Damodar Rout said.
The former Kendrapara SP reportedly owns 10 acres of land with a fishpond in his wife’s name under Gop tehsil in Puri district and has encroached a similar size of government land in the same area. An inquiry team had inspected the area Thursday.
Gajbhiye is not unfamiliar with controversies as the senior cop has put the government in the doc many times in the past. The 2002 batch IPS officer had been interrogated by the CBI last year for his alleged involvement with a chit fund company.
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