Telangana DGP’s suspension for violating the MCC by meeting Revanth Reddy revoked by the ECI

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday revoked the suspension of Director General of Police, Anjani Kumar. The commission had suspended him for violating the model code of conduct by meeting Congress leader Revanth Reddy, the current chief minister of Telangana, on December 3, while the assembly poll votes were still being counted.

DGP Anjani Kumar along with state police nodal officer Sanjay Jain and nodal officer Mahesh Bhagwat went and presented Revanth Reddy with a bouquet at his residence in Hyderabad. Pictures of the DGP and Revanth Reddy together were circulated far and wide on social media and they stoked a massive controversy, with netizens sharing the pictures of the duo and questioning the violation of the model code of conduct.

Following Kumar’s suspension, senior IPS officer Ravi Gupta was given the charge of the DGP. “Ravi Gupta is placed in full additional charge to the post of DGP, head of police force (HoPF) of Telangana, with immediate effect, until further orders,” said Telangana chief secretary A Santhi Kumari in a statement.

The Election Commission stated that the DGP deciding to meet Revanth Reddy out of 2,290 contesting candidates, and the fact that Reddy happens to be a prominent face of a particular political out of 16 parties in the fray “was a clear indication of mala fide intention of seeking favor.

It has also been stated by the Election Commission of India that the Director General of Police, Anjani Kumar could have a negative impact on the junior officers in the force, and deemed the meeting a clear breach of the model code of conduct.​