Bengaluru: Was not at helipad when PM’s chopper arrived – IAS officer

Bengaluru: Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Mohammed Mohsin is an anguished man. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, the IAS officer and Secretary, Backward Classes Welfare revealed that he did not order the search of the Prime Minister’s helicopter in Sambalpur, where he was deputed as the general observer by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“I was not at the helipad when the PM’s helicopter arrived. I have written letters to the Collector, Superintendent of Police and District Election Officer, Sambalpur, Odisha asking them for the copy of the mail or letter they had sent to the ECI following the search and videography of PM’s helicopter after, which I was placed under suspension but none of them has replied to me so far,” Mohsin said.

“The suspension order was a bolt from the blue as I have always functioned as an election observer strictly on the norms prescribed not only in the ongoing general elections but also in the past elections. The ECI has revoked my suspension, but has asked for a disciplinary inquiry by the state government and also debarred me from any election duty till further orders. I will have to seek appropriate legal remedy against the latter part of the said order of the ECI dated April 25,” the IAS officer said.

He added that his case has no precedence in the history of the ECI. “A general observer is the arm of the ECI. If there is a dereliction of duty on his part he is repatriated to his cadre state and a disciplinary inquiry follows. In my case the ECI immediately placed me under suspension. I am now fighting in the dark for my dignity,” Mohsin said.

His suspension was stayed by the Central Administrative Tribunal on Thursday and by the ECI later in the evening.