ECI Directs Replacement Of Jharkhand’s Acting DGP Ahead Of Upcoming Elections

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday ordered the immediate removal of Acting Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta, citing a “history” of complaints against him during past elections.

According to PTI, the decision to remove Gupta was made due to complaints and prior actions taken against him in earlier elections.

Jharkhand‘s polls are scheduled to be held in two phases, on November 13 and 20. Until a new DGP is appointed, the state’s senior-most officer at the DGP level will take charge.

The state government has been directed to submit a list of senior IPS officers by October 21 for the EC to appoint Gupta’s replacement. A compliance report on his removal is expected by this evening.

Previous Allegations Against Gupta

Gupta faced scrutiny during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the EC relieved him of his role as ADG (Special Branch) after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) accused him of bias. He was reassigned to Delhi and restricted from returning to Jharkhand until the elections were concluded.

Additionally, during the 2016 Rajya Sabha elections from Jharkhand, Gupta was accused of misuse of power while serving as an additional DGP. Following an EC inquiry, a charge sheet was filed, leading to a departmental investigation.

Currently, JMM holds the majority in the Jharkhand Assembly with 30 seats, followed by the BJP with 25 and Congress with 16.