EC Bars IAS Officer Who Checked PM Modi’s Helicopter From Poll Duty, Recommends Strict Action

Mohammed Mohsin, an IAS officer from Karnataka, who checked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter in Odisha, has been barred from poll duties by the Election Commission (EC) reports Press Trust of India.

The apex polling agency has also recommended the Karnataka government to take disciplinary actions against him, claimed the report.

A 1996 batch IAS officer from Karnataka cadre, Mohsin was posted in Odisha as a general observer. He was suspended on 17 April for checking Modi’s helicopter in Odisha’s Sambalpur and thus violating the norms while dealing with Special Protection Group(SPG) protectees and also the standing instructions of the EC.

The Commission, in its statement said, “It has been laid down that the SPG protectees are exempt from checking. He should have known the instruction being the observer. The reason for suspension is dereliction of duty’’. An official order on the said provision was issued in April 2014.

The Commission took action against Mohsin based on reports submitted by the collector of the district and Deputy Inspector General of Police.

The Central Administrative Tribunal(CAT) in Bengaluru later stayed the EC order suspending Mohsin.