‘The Story So Far...’ Checking PM Modi’s Chopper Costs An IAS Officer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally on April 17 in the Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha. On the day, a 1996-batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer, Mohammed Mohsin posted as General Observer was suspended for allegedly checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chopper in Sambalpur in violation of the laid down norms.

The Election Commission order said that Mohsin had not acted in conformity with the EC's instructions concerning Special Protection Group. The Commission also barred him from election duty until further notice.

Apparently, the Prime Minister was stated to have been held up at the place for around 15 minutes because of the sudden checking.

However, on April 25, the EC revoked the suspension but it came with a condition. It ordered the Karnataka state government to whom Mohsin reports to carry out disciplinary action against him.

Mohsin has finally broken his silence and said that he had not violated any rules and was unaware of the charges against him.

In his defence, Mohsin says that he is fighting the case in the dark.

He says, “I acted strictly as per the letter and spirit of the ECI guidelines. I have not violated any rules 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 this. I am fighting this case in the dark,” he said.

Mohsin claims that he was not present at the spot when the incident occurred. Mohsin's version is vastly different.

The Officer claims that he had no idea of what happened at the helipad and came to know all about it from the media reports.

He said that the observer's duty is to ensure that the video team is carrying out its duties properly. After advising them he said that he left the room.

He later went to the venue of the function and sat for five minutes at the police control room, by that time the District Collector had joined him. He later got a call from Deputy Chief Election Commissioner asking if he had ordered any frisking to which he denied and was asked to submit a response. He furnished a report and all of a sudden by 11.30 pm, he was suspended.

The EC revoked its order when the Central Administrative Tribunal, which looks into complaints by government officers, put the move on hold. The CAT asked both the EC and Mohsin to furnish their responses within three weeks.

Mohsin says that since the matter is sub-judice, he would not comment, but will carry on his fight as he says his conscience is clear.

( Arpita Ghosh: Lead Writer and Anchor | Laxmikanth Patwari: Video Editor )