THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Oct. 19: The Election Commission today ordered the removal of acting DGP Anurag Gupta ahead of assembly elections in Jharkhand. The EC has cited the ‘history of complaints’ against him in previous elections.
The ECI, in its order, said the acting DGP should hand over charge to the senior most DGP level officer available in the cadre. The State Government has been directed to submit the compliance of these directions by 7 pm today.
Also, the Jharkhand Government has been asked to submit a panel of senior IPS officers by 10 am, October 21.
Notably, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gupta was relieved of his duties as ADG (Special Branch), Jharkhand, following allegations of biased conduct by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
At the time, he was reassigned to the Resident Commissioner’s Office in Delhi and barred from returning to Jharkhand until the election process was completed.
Furthermore, during the Rajya Sabha elections in 2016, Gupta, then Additional DGP, faced serious charges of misuse of authority.
The Commission had formed an inquiry committee which, based on its findings, resulted in a charge sheet being issued against him for departmental inquiry.
Notably, the Jharkhand Government appointed Anurag Gupta, a 1990 batch IPS officer, as acting DGP, replacing Ajay Kumar Singh. Ajay Kumar Singh, a 1989 batch IPS officer, on July 30.
Singh was appointed as the DGP of Jharkhand on February 14, 2023, based on seniority.
Soon after that, a contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging Gupta’s appointment.
