Election Official lose job for checking PM’s chopper

Does VIPs with Special Protection Group (SPG) cover security cannot be checked by the Election Commission?

The Model Code of Election apparently says so if not an official who went on to check none other than the Prime Minister Narendra’s Modi chopper, was placed under suspension.  The checking has forced 15 minutes delay of the PM’s hectic electioneering schedule.

According to news report, an officer posted as general observer in Odisha for suspended for checking PM’s helicopter in Sambalpur in Odisha in ‘violation of norms’.

The suspended IAS officers is identified as Mohammed Mohsin of1996-batch Karnataka cadre.  Suspension orders issued by the EC claims that he has violated the norms.  He allegedly not acted in conformity with the EC’s instructions, especially concerning Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees.

The EC acted upon and took the action against the general observer of Sambalpur on receipt of a report from the district collector and the deputy inspector general of police.

As a result, the prime minister was stated to have been held up at the place for around 15 minutes because of the sudden checking.

An Election Official said without elaborated that checking of the PM’s chopper, undertaken at Sambalpur, was not in accordance with the EC guidelines as SPG protectees are exempt for such checking.

In fact, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s helicopter was also checked by EC flying squad personnel in Rourkela on Tuesday.

So was the Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s chopper at Sambalpur Tuesday by the flying squad, sources said.

Interestingly, the Opposition Congress had accused not so long ago of the PM’s chopper ferrying money trunk during the electioneering. It claimed a video showing a ‘suspected black trunk’ being transported by a private vehicle sooner after the PM’s helicopter landing during the Chitradurga visit in Karnataka as part of election campaigning.  The party also demanded a probe.