The Election Commission (EC) has taken decisive action against senior IPS officer DS Kuttey, who was serving in the Odisha chief ministers office, for allegedly meddling in the election process. Additionally, another IPS officer, Ashish Singh, is under scrutiny and has been directed to undergo a detailed medical examination by a specialized medical board.The ECs order mandates the immediate suspension of DS Kuttey, a senior IPS officer of the 1997 batch and special secretary to the CM, for his purported interference in the electoral process. He has been instructed to report to the Office of Resident Commissioner, Odisha, in New Delhi, by May 29. Furthermore, the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha has been tasked with drafting the chargesheet against Kuttey, to be issued by the Odisha Chief Secretary by May 30.Medical examination for Ashish SinghAshish Singh, a 2010-batch IPS officer currently serving as IG (CM Security), has been on medical leave since May 4. The EC has directed him to undergo a thorough medical examination by a special medical board convened by the director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, before May 30. The objective is to ascertain the nature of his illness and the treatment he is undergoing.ECI orders suspension of DS Kutey.Investigation into allegationsThe EC has also ordered a investigation into the case involving Prashant Jagdev, BJP MLA candidate from Khordha assembly constituency. Jagdev was arrested on Monday following allegations of tampering with EVMs in a polling booth. The BJP contends that Jagdevs arrest was unjustified, citing CCTV footage that purportedly exonerates him.Past allegations against DS KutteyPreviously, the BJP had accused DS Kuttey of bias towards the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and demanded action against him. Similar concerns were raised about Ashish Singhs influence on the electoral process despite being transferred. Additionally, senior bureaucrat Sujata R Kartikeyan, wife of a BJD leader, was transferred following complaints of misuse of her office in favor of the BJD.
