Odisha IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh appointed IG of ITBP

Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: Ashish Kumar Singh, an IPS officer from the Odisha cadre, was appointed as the Inspector General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Friday.

This appointment, confirmed in a communication from the Union Home Ministry to the Odisha Chief Secretary, is for a term of five years, effective from the date he assumes charge or until further notice.

The letter requested that Singh be relieved immediately so he can begin his new role at the central level. Singh, who belongs to the 2004 batch of IPS officers, has been at the center of controversy this year for alleged inappropriate involvement in the electoral process within the state.

In April, the Election Commission reassigned Singh from his position as IG (Central Range) to a non-election-related role, later appointing him as IG for Chief Minister security. In June, the Commission recommended action against him for allegedly misrepresenting his health status, following claims from the BJP that he was supporting the BJD during the elections while on sick leave from May 4 to June 2.

After returning to duty on July 3, he was subsequently removed from the CM's security post and assigned to the Office of the Special Duty in the Home Department on July 11.