In a significant twist to the Odisha DGP selection case hearing in the Supreme Court, senior IPS officer Susanta Kumar Nath (IPS:1993:OD) has told the apex court that the State government discriminated against him by arbitrarily withdrawing his Integrity Certificate during the DGP selection process. Nath alleged that it was done without any allegation or evidence of wrongdoing against him.
The IPS officer made this submission through an affidavit filed in the top court on Monday. The court is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday.
Nath submitted that the only thing that was treated as being against him is the CBI’s letter mentioning that he might be examined at a later date if required, after permission was granted against M/s ITI officials. Nath has contended that it meant that he may or may not be examined and, even if examined, it could be only as a witness.
Nath further submitted that the CBI’s statement could not be used to deny him an opportunity to be impartially considered in the DGP selection process by the UPSC.
Nath said he was filing the affidavit to bring additional facts and documents before the apex court for the proper adjudication of the issues pending before it.
Nath’s counsel has already submitted notes and compilations of relevant documents before the top court.
Interestingly, the senior IPS officer also told the apex court that, according to material available in the public domain and electronic and print media, two officers named in the state govt’s list for the DGP empanelment sent to the UPSC, RP Koche (IPS:1993:OD) and Sanjeeb Panda (IPS:1994:OD), had earlier been examined by the CBI in connection with the Seashore Chit Fund Case in Odisha.
Nath further alleged that this fact had neither been placed before the court or the UPSC, nor had their Integrity Certificates been withdrawn by the Odisha govt.
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