Odisha Government likely to extend Gajbhiye’s Suspension

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5: Odisha government is likely to extend the suspension of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and former Kendrapada Superintendent of Police (SP) Satish Gajbhiye. In this regard, a high-level meeting was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati at State Secretariat.

The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Asit Tripathy, General Administration Secretary G.V.V. Sharma and Home Department’s Special Secretary. The decision taken over the suspension of Gajbhiye is however kept secret, but it appears that the state government is likely to extend the order further.

Notably, on August 13, the Odisha Government suspended former Kendrapra SP Satish Gajbhiye for using excessive force against the demonstrators in the town during the agitation against Sarathi Baba. He was also found guilty of showing inappropriate behaviour towards the citizens and breaking All India Services Code by raising controversial maters on social media.

The state government had not framed draft charges in stipulated time-frame as required to suspend All India level officer under central government. However, Odisha Home Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy had clarified on October 19 about central government’s confirmation over the suspension of Gajbhiye.