Karnataka cadre poll observer checks PM Modi's convoy, gets suspended by EC

Bengaluru, 18 Apr 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: The Election Commission has suspended one of its observers for Sambalpur for violating its instructions that SPG protectees should not be checked.

Though official word from either the EC or the government is awaited, media reports stated that general observer Mohammed Mohsin had tried to check some luggage in the convoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 16, the day the PM addressed a rally in Sambalpur.

Mohammed Mohsin is a Karnataka cadre IAS officer.

An order issued by the EC stated that Mohammad Mohsin acted in violation of existing instructions of EC.

"It has been laid down that SPG protectees are exempted from checking. He should have known the instruction being an observer. The reason for suspension is dereliction of duty," a source was quoted in a media report.

The order exempting SPG protectees, including the PM, was issued in April 2014.

"Taking cognizance of the matter and based on available facts, the observer was placed under suspension and removed from the observer duty," an EC official said.

The commission has now deputed deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma to visit Sambalpur to conduct a detailed inquiry and furnish a report in two days.