THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Oct. 19: Close on the heels of the Election Commission’s order the Jharkhand Government issued a notification directing Anurag Gupta to hand over the charge of DGP to Ajay Kumar Singh.
The ECI, in its order, had asked Gupta to hand over charge to the senior most DGP level officer available in the cadre ahead of assembly elections. The State Government was 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, the Jharkhand Government appointed Anurag Gupta, a 1990 batch IPS officer, as acting DGP, replacing 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, following a panel approved by the UPSC.
Soon after that, a contempt petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging Gupta’s appointment. The petition is still pending.
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History of complaints against Anurag Gupta
The EC has cited the ‘history of complaints’ against Gupta in previous elections.
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.
