EC orders removal of Jharkhand acting DGP ahead of polls, cites history of complaints during previous elections

The Election Commission has ordered the removal of Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta with immediate effect ahead of Assembly elections. The poll body cited a ‘history of complaints against him in previous elections’ for the decision.

Sources told ANI that the order had been issued on Friday morning and called for the acting DGP to hand over his charges and responsibilities to the senior most DGP level officer available in the cadre. The state Government has been directed to submit the compliance of these directions by 7 pm today.

The Jharkhand assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20. The counting of votes is slated to occur on November 23.

Gupta had previously been relieved from his duties as the ADG (special branch) for Jharkhand during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The decision was taken following allegations of biased conduct by the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. At the time he had been reassigned to the Resident Commissioner's Office in Delhi and barred from returning to Jharkhand until the election process was completed.

The senior official had also faced serious charges related to the misuse of authority during the during the Biennial Elections to the Council of States from Jharkhand in 2016. The Commission had formed an inquiry committee which, based on its findings, resulted in a charge sheet being issued against him for departmental inquiry.

The move came even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren indicated that the Opposition INDIA bloc had reached a seat sharing agreement. Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have announced plans to contest 70 seats in the Assembly — and talks remain underway with RJD and Left parties for 11 out of 81 seats in the state. The assertion had sparked a furious rebuttal from the allied RJD camp. 

Meanwhile the BJP announced its first list of 66 candidates for Jharkhand elections on Saturday evening — fielding former Jharkhand Chief Ministers Champai Soren and Babulal Marandi.

(With inputs for agencies)