An officer who was posted as General Observer in Odisha was handed a suspension by the Election Commission for allegedly checking PM Narendra Modi’s helicopter in Sambalpur on Tuesday, in breaching the norms.
The 1996 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer named Mohammed Mohsin, has not acted in compliance with the Election Commission’s instructions concerning Special Protection Group or SPG protectees, an order which was issued by the commission added.
“Checking of the prime minister’s chopper, undertaken at Sambalpur, was not in accordance with the Election Commission guidelines as SPG protectees are exempt from such checking,” said a senior official without elaborating.
Indian Prime Minister was stated to have been held up at the place for 15 minutes because of sudden checking, the official said.
While Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s helicopter was also inspected by the personnel of the Election Commission flying squad in Rourkela on Tuesday.
Also, similar checking was carried out for Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s chopper at Sambalpur on Tuesday by the flying squad, sources added in a statement.