Mohammed Mohsin, a 1996 batch IAS officer from Karnataka, found himself in the limelight after he was suspended by the Election Commission of India for checking Prime Minister Modi’s helicopter in Sambalpur district of Odisha.
Days later, his suspension was stayed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and by the Election Commission of India. Moshin, who returned to his office in Karnataka secretariat, still faces a disciplinary probe; however, he says he is yet to get any information regarding the charges against him.
Talking about what transpired on 16 April, Mohsin said: “I went to the Helipad with the video surveillance teams, bearing in mind the Model Code of Conduct. The observer’s duty is to see that video teams are utilised in a proper manner, so I advised them and left the place. While sitting in the DC’s office, I got a call from the deputy chief election commissioner asking if I had ordered for frisking to be carried out, which I denied. All of a sudden around 11.30 pm, they suspended me.”
He said he had to leave the venue of the rally, along with the district collector, to reach a centre conducting mock polls, since some voting machines were malfunctioning.
Reacting to the allegation that his actions were against security protocols, Mohsin said he acted strictly as per the letter and spirit of the ECI guidelines. “I have not violated any rule and I have not done anything wrong in this matter. This is why I asked for a copy of the report against me, but they have so far not shared it. I am fighting this case in the dark. I even asked the fact-finding team, which did not share information as well,” he said.
According to the officer, the men responsible for the alleged mistakes – since he was not at the spot – have gone unpunished. “I have not ordered anything, why am I being punished and suspended?” he asked.
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