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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has lifted the suspension of Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) Anjani Kumar. His suspension was initiated based on allegations of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by meeting Chief Minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy during the state assembly election counting earlier this month.
Mr. Kumar faced suspension after images surfaced of him presenting a bouquet to Mr. Reddy at his residence during the vote counting process. The meeting, which involved state police officers Sanjay Kumar Jain and Mahesh M Bhagwat, generated significant social media attention, raising questions about potential MCC violations.
The DGP’s selective meeting with a single candidate among the 2,290 contesting candidates, particularly from one specific party among the 16 in the fray, fueled suspicions of favouritism. This triggered concerns about the DGP’s impartiality and adherence to the MCC, which mandates neutrality from officials during elections.
The ECI deemed the meeting a clear violation of the code, expressing apprehension about the potential negative impact on junior officers. The MCC requires officials to maintain impartiality during the electoral process, and Mr. Kumar’s actions were seen as contravening this mandate.
Following Mr. Kumar’s suspension, senior IPS officer Ravi Gupta assumed additional charge as Telangana DGP. The revocation of the suspension marks a significant development in the aftermath of the controversy, as the ECI evaluates the implications of the DGP’s actions on the electoral process and administrative integrity.
