Post News Network
Cuttack: The Cuttack bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Tuesday refused to provide relief to suspended IPS officer Satish Kumar Gajbhiye and directed him to put forth his objections before the state government within two weeks.
The CAT also directed the state government to dispose of Gajbhiye’s representation in connection with his suspension in August for alleged police excesses on peaceful demonstrators in Kendrapara.
Disposing of all three applications filed by the 2002-batch IPS officer, the CAT bench comprising Judicial member AK Patnaik and administrative member RN Mishra said the tribunal was not inclined to interfere in the matter at this stage and ordered the state against taking any ‘coercive’ action against Gajbhiye before his plea is disposed of.
The state government suspended Gajbhiye August 13 while he was Kendrapara superintendent of police (SP). The axe fell on him for the alleged police excesses on innocent people.
It is alleged that the Maharashtra-born official was providing undue protection to self-styled godman Sarathi Baba who lodged in Choudwar jail and facing charges of cheating and kidnapping. Gajbhiye was also facing the government wrath for allegations of illegal acquisition of government land at Puri in the name of his wife for developing a fish farm. He was also facing charges of financial irregularities during his tenure as Malkangiri SP in 2008.
The Centre also confirmed Gajbhiye’s suspension October 20 this year in accordance with the All India Service Rules. However, challenging the delay in framing the draft charges against him, Gajbhiye had approached the CAT against his suspension order on all the three counts.