Ranchi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the immediate removal of Anurag Gupta from his role as the Acting Director General of Police (DGP) in Jharkhand, directing the state government to ensure compliance by 7 PM today. The ECI has instructed that Gupta hand over his position to the senior-most available DGP-level officer within the cadre.
Background and Reasons for Removal
• Complaints and Controversies: The decision follows a series of complaints against Gupta, primarily concerning his conduct during past election periods. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the current ruling party, had previously accused him of bias during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, leading to his removal from the role of Additional Director General (ADG) of the Special Branch. Following this, he was reassigned to the Resident Commissioner’s Office in Delhi, with the ECI barring his return to Jharkhand until after the elections.
• Past Allegations: Gupta’s career has been marred by earlier controversies, including accusations of misuse of authority during the 2016 Biennial Elections to the Council of States from Jharkhand, when he held the position of Additional DGP. These longstanding allegations appear to have played a significant role in the ECI’s decision to remove him from the top police post.
Next Steps
• The ECI has directed the Jharkhand government to submit a list of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for consideration by 10 AM on October 21, 2024, signaling its intent to appoint a new head for the state’s police force.
• This move highlights the ECI’s emphasis on maintaining a fair and impartial law enforcement environment, particularly with upcoming elections on the horizon.
The directive underlines the ECI’s resolve to uphold integrity within law enforcement, ensuring that officers overseeing the electoral process are free from bias and controversy.