Home Department initiates inquiry into IPS officers for election misconduct

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24: The Home Department has announced that an inquiry will be conducted into serious misconduct allegations against two senior IPS officers, DS Kutey and Ashish Kumar Singh, related to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha. Both officers, currently serving as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) at the Home Department, have been issued show-cause notices and given 30 days to submit a written defense. If they fail to respond or appear before the inquiry authorities within this timeframe, the probe will proceed ex-parte.

Kutey, who was previously a key figure in the Odisha administration under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's 24-year tenure, and Singh are accused of improperly influencing the election process in the state.

Kutey was suspended by the Election Commission on May 28 following an incident involving the vandalism of EVMs by BJP candidate Prashant Jagadev during the sixth phase of voting on May 25. His suspension was lifted on June 6, and he was later reassigned to the Home Department as an OSD on July 15.

Singh was transferred from his role as IG (Central Range) to a non-election-related position in April and later appointed as IG (CM Security). In June, the Election Commission recommended action against Singh for allegedly misrepresenting his health status. He was accused of working in favor of the BJD while on sick leave (May 4 to June 2), prompting a directive for a health check-up at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. Singh was subsequently removed from his position as Inspector General of Police (Chief Minister’s Security) and reassigned as OSD, Home Department, on July 11.