Jharkhand Election: Election Commission orders immediate removal of DGP Anurag Gupta

Jharkhand Election: Acting Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta was ordered to be removed immediately on Saturday by the Election Commission, which cited a “history” of complaints made against him during past elections.

According to a media report, the ECI decided to remove Gupta due to complaints and actions made against him in previous elections.

The senior-most officer in the state’s DGP hierarchy will assume responsibility for the position in the meantime.

In order for the EC to choose a new DGP, the state government has been directed to provide a list of top Indian Police Service (IPS) personnel by October 21. By this evening, a compliance report about Gupta’s dismissal is needed.

Anurag Gupta has a Complaint History

Following accusations of prejudice by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Gupta was removed from his position as ADG (Special Branch) in Jharkhand during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was sent to Delhi and was not allowed to come back to the state till the elections were over.

While serving as an extra DGP in Jharkhand in the 2016 Rajya Sabha elections, Gupta was accused of abusing his position. After an investigation by the EC, a charge sheet was filed against him, prompting a departmental investigation.

With 30 members in the state legislature, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is currently the biggest and governing party in Jharkhand. There are 25 MLAs for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and 16 for the Congress.