Telangana DGP and other top officials suspended by EC for violation of model code of conduct: VIDEO INSIDE
Besides Kumar, Sanjay Jain, Nodal Officer of State Police, Telangana and Mahesh Bhagwat, Nodal (Expenditure) had met Revanth Reddy.
Telangana DGP suspended: Telangana Director General of Police Anjani Kumar has been suspended by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for violating the Model Code of Conduct and relevant rules of conduct, the sources said on Sunday. Anjani Kumar, along with Sanjay Jain, Nodal Officer of State Police, Telangana, and Mahesh Bhagwat, Nodal (Expenditure), had met Anumula Revanth Reddy, a candidate for the ongoing Telangana Legislative Assembly elections, in Hyderabad with a floral bouquet at the domicile of the said contesting candidate.
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#WATCH | Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar and other police officials meet state Congress president Revanth Reddy at his residence in Hyderabad.
The party is leading on 65 of the total 119 seats in the state, while ruling BRS is leading on 38 seats. pic.twitter.com/m6A9llRzgO
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
The suspension orders of the Telangana DGP were issued by the poll body after the top cop met Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy at his residence earlier on Sunday morning.
Besides Kumar, Sanjay Jain, Nodal Officer of State Police, Telangana and Mahesh Bhagwat, Nodal (Expenditure) had met Revanth Reddy.
“The Director General of Police Telangana chose to meet one candidate out of the total 2290 candidates and the star campaigner of one political party out of 16 political parties in the fray, with a floral bouquet at the candidate’s residence when the counting took place. process which is still ongoing along with two or more senior police officers is a clear indication of malafide intentions to seek favour,” official sources said.
Sources in the Election Commission said that the Director General of Police is the head of the state police force and he is expected to lead the entire police forces of the state by setting an example through his “personally impartial behaviour”.
“Any misconduct by DGP Telangana not only sets a wrong precedent but also sends wrong signals to the field formations who are still busy conducting elections. Needless to add that if junior police officers in the field formations start following the footsteps of their seniors to meet candidates who give up their counting and security related duties, the consequences could be disastrous of unimaginable proportions,” EC sources added.
Meanwhile, the EC has also sought explanation from two other officials, Nodal Officer Sanjay Kumar Jain of the state police and Nodal Officer (expenditure) Mahesh M. Bhagwat, about the circumstances under which they met Revanth Reddy.
“The next most suitable police officer of the state will immediately take charge of Director General of Police Telangana,” EC said.