Odisha government closes proceeding against IPS officer

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has closed a disciplinary proceeding, initiated against IPS officer Satish Gajabhiye in 2015 in connection with a controversy over payment of reward money for anti-Naxal operation to some cops while he was serving as Malkangiri SP in 2008.
The government has dropped the charges against him following the Supreme Court‘s directive a few days ago. The 2002 batch IPS officer is still an SP-ranked officer currently serving as principal of the urban police and traffic training institute in Bhubaneswar, though he would have been promoted to the rank of IG by now.
It had been a prolonged legal battle for Gajabhiye at different courts before he got relief by the apex court. Going by the chronology, the government had initiated the proceeding against him in November 2015 following allegation by some constables that he misappropriated Rs 3.55 lakh, which was supposed to be disbursed to them for a successful anti-Naxal operation in Malkangiri in June 2008.
Gajabhiye challenged the proceeding before the Central Administrative Tribunal. But he received a jolt as the CAT dismissed his petition on August 10, 2018. The officer then moved the Orissa high court, seeking to quash the proceeding against him. Much to his relief, the high court on December 8, 2020 set aside the proceeding against him and ordered the government to retrospectively process all promotions and benefits due to the officer within a month.
The state government moved the Supreme Court and filed a special leave petition, challenging the HC’s order. The Supreme Court, on October 6 this year dismissed the government’s SLP and upheld the high court’s earlier judgement.
“In compliance with the order of the Supreme Court, the government has been pleased to close the disciplinary proceeding against Gajabhiye S K Ishwardas,” read the state home department’s order issued on December 14.
Gajabhiye refused to comment. The state government had withheld his promotions after he was mired in a series of controversies post-2015. The government had first initiated a proceeding against Gajbhiye over a law and order problem that had erupted in Kendrapada during his tenure as SP in August 2015. On August 13, 2015 the state government placed Gajbhiye under suspension in the wake of mob violence in Kendrapada. The mob had gathered outside spiritual leader Sarathi Baba’s Ashram on August 7, 2015, demanding action against the Baba for his alleged immoral acts.
The second proceeding followed allegations that he and his wife allegedly grabbed government land in Gop block in Puri district. A vigilance inquiry was ordered into the case then. Finding no wrongdoing against him, the government had subsequently closed the two proceedings against him.
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