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Nobody told me which law I violated: IAS officer suspended for searching Modi’s chopper

Mohammad Mohsin, the IAS officer suspended for checking Modi’s helicopter, says the EC never sought his version of events before suspending him.

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New Delhi: Mohammad Mohsin, the IAS officer who was suspended for checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter, has alleged that the Election Commission of India (EC) did not seek his version on the sequence of events before suspending him.

“We are supposed to be the eyes and ears of the Election Commission…Yet, the EC acted on the district administration’s inputs, and did not seek my views,” Mohsin told ThePrint Friday, a day after his suspension was revoked by the poll panel following a stay on it from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

The officer was posted in Odisha on election duty when he was suspended on 16 April after checking the Prime Minister Modi’s helicopter at the state’s Sambalpur town.

In his application to CAT, Mohsin has alleged that the EC action was “high-handed, mala fide and is not in good faith”.

“In their order on my suspension, not in one place has it been mentioned under which section or rule I have been suspended,” he told ThePrint. “I have no friends or enemies in any political party… I only go by rules, so I should at least be told which rule I have violated.

“But despite repeated requests, I got no reply from the EC,” Mohsin said, adding that he had appealed against the EC’s order on 23 April but has got no response yet.

Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma, on the basis of whose 32-page page report the EC suspended the officer, approached him for a response only after the action was taken, Mohsin alleged.


Also read: IAS officer suspended for checking Modi’s chopper is a vocal critic of govt


EC asks Karnataka to take action

While EC revoked his suspension, it barred him from election duty and advised the Karnataka government to take disciplinary action against him.

In his application to CAT, which gave the 1996-batch Karnataka cadre officer some relief, it has been argued, “If the officer videographed the helicopter from a distance, the same ought to have been appreciated as the Prime Minister is also a politician and is not above the law.”

While he refused to comment on the application, Mohsin said he had ordered that the PM’s helicopter be videographed but left for other electioneering work right after.

Asked if he fears being cornered by the BJP government at the centre after his action, Mohsin said, “In my 22 years of service, I have never even got a showcause notice from the government. I have always followed rules, and will continue to do that.”

EC had suspended the officer for allegedly violating the poll body’s instructions on SPG protectees.

Staying his suspension, however, CAT said that during an election process while reasonable assurances of protection and security must be made available to SPG protectees, it cannot be said that “they are eligible for anything and everything”.


Also read: IAS poll observer: With Modi breaking rules, should EC give him special security treatment?


 

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11 COMMENTS

  1. When then election declared then PM also a care taker PM, which is not above the law, if the IAS officer break any rules then why not EC issued show cause notice to him. It means EC only want to show his obediency to PM. There is not question of any wrong doing. If IAS officer done any thing wrong then EC will issue him Show-cause notice first.
    Now a days we saw every where EC is supporting PM & BJP.

  2. When Modi campaigns, his entire cabinet goes to sleep. What’s become national headlines doesn’t catch attention of the highest authority, in this case the minister responsible. अरे भाई न्याय करो positive PR का कुछ फ़ायदा होगा।

  3. Suspension is not a punishment at all, legally speaking. If the IAS officer has the audacity to videograph the PM’s vehicle he should have very valid reason/s for that and that he should have remained there at least and respectfully explained the situation to the PM. What did he found after doing “his duty”, as he claims, from the vehicle ? Why has he not filed FIR ?
    He deserves to be dismissed as a mere nobody, from public memory.

    • Yes the officer must understand that the airbus has been thoroughly checked by the security of Zplus category .He has to go for his interview-days in civil service which he has qualified to have good knowledge. Here the security personnel had also worked more than the two eyes and ears of ordinary people which has most importance than any other available in the nation.
      Thanks my dear bro .

      • Yes suspension is not a punishment for which as no natural justice has been violated and thus need no explanation before such imposition. Rather the venture/actions of Mohsin like officers shows their high-handed ness.
        All the best my dear bro and thanks.

  4. If EC has shown the rules that SPG protectees can not be allowed to be checked then where is the doubt… That may be the another case that in the election related polarised atmosphere, the said IAS officer has got benefit of doubt… Or he may be reprimanded only…. Suspension may be a hard punishment and may be not proportionate to his offence….

    • As suspension is not a punishment the officer could have in return prayed for immediate revoke with an application / representation mentioned the intention that it requires benefit of doubt . Since his reputation in public is concerned he deserves immediate reinstatement as a result of quick consideration by the EC.

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