Bhubaneswar, Aug 23: The Odisha Home Department has initiated action against the two senior IPS officers- DS Kutey and Ashish Singh for their ‘gross misconduct’ during 2024 simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State.

The IPS officers, now posted as OSDs at the Home Department, have been served show-cause notices and directed to submit written statement in defence within 30 days. If they fail, the enquiries against them will be held ex-parte.

Kutey, a 1997-batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre and deemed close to IAS officer-turned-politician VK Pandian, former CM  Naveen Patnaik's closest aide was suspended by Election Commission of India on May 28 this year for unduly interfering in the conduct of the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha.

The ECI initially fixed the headquarters of Kutey, then a special secretary to CM, in the Office of Odisha Resident Commissioner in New Delhi before revoking his suspension last month following which he was posted as officer on special duty in Home Department.

Similarly on May 30, Ashis Singh, a 2010-batch IPS who worked as Inspector General of police (CM security) and close to Pandian, was asked to present himself for detailed medical examination by a special medical board constituted by director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar over allegations that he was helping BJD in election even though he was on official leave.

 After the BJP government took charge, Singh was removed from the post of Inspector General of Police (Chief Minister’s security) and posted as OSD, Home Department, on July 11.

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