Within Rights to Transfer Officials During Polls: EC Tells Mamata

The EC, on Friday night, replaced four senior WB police officers including Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma.

File photo of Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma who was also replaced by the Election Commission.

(Photo: IANS)

The Election Commission on Sunday, 7 April, rejected allegations of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that it ordered transfer of four police officers at the behest of the ruling BJP at the Centre. It said the decision was based on “cumulative feedback” from one of its top officials and the special police observer, reported PTI.

The Commission also told Banerjee that as per election law, it is “fully within its rights” to transfer and appoint officers during model code. It said it won't respond to the allegation to prove its image.

“It is unfortunate that an exercise carried out by ECI only for the duration of the Model Code of Conduct is being labelled as arbitrary, motivated at the behest of ruling party at the Centre. It would not be correct and dignified to respond to such averments to prove/burnish its credentials.”

Election Commission

Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, 6 April, wrote to the Election Commission protesting the transfers of four IPS officers, including Kolkata and Bidhannagar police commissioners.

The EC decision is “highly arbitrary, motivated and biased” and taken at the behest of the BJP, the letter said, urging the poll panel to review its decision.

"Should there be any deterioration in the law and order situation of the state, would the Commission take responsibility?" said the letter, the content of which was shared with PTI.

It also asked the EC to initiate a probe as to how and under whose guidance the decision on the transfer of the top police officers was taken.

Banerjee alleged that the EC transfer orders came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a BJP candidate alleged in a TV programme that the law and order situation in West Bengal is bad.

EC Transfers Four WB Cops Including Kolkata Police Commissioner

The Election Commission had issued orders effecting the transfer of four top-level cops in West Bengal, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma. Rajesh Kumar, formerly, the ADG of Pollution Control Board will replace Sharma.

The EC on Friday, 5 April, wrote to Malay Dey, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, regarding the transfer and posting of the officers.

Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh will be replaced by Natarajan Ramesh Babu, ADG and IGP, Operations.

The EC also named Avannu Ravindranath, DC (Airport Division) of Bidhannagar, as the new superintendent of police of Birbhum and appointed Srihari Pandey, DC KAP, 3rd Battalion as the superintendent of police of Diamond Harbour.

(Photo: The Quint)

The directions of the commission were supposed to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect to the joining of the transferred officers needed to be sent within the next 24 hours.

The EC, in its letter to the chief secretary, also directed that the present incumbent officers being shifted should not be involved by the state government in any election-related duty.

Anuj Sharma Was Appointed in February

Anuj Sharma had replaced the former top cop of Kolkata Rajeev Kumar less than two months ago. His appointment had come amid allegations that Kumar had tampered with the evidence in the Saradha chit fund case. He was also questioned by the CBI, in the case.

Both Sharma and Gyanwant Singh were present with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when she started her dharna to protest CBI action against Kumar, news agency PTI reported.

Opposition Parties Welcome EC’s Move

All three major opposition parties in West Bengal – the BJP, Congress and CPI(M) – welcomed the Election Commission’s decision.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said this would boost the confidence of the voters. “The police establishment in West Bengal has become a B-team of the Trinamool Congress government. I welcome the move of the ECI ,” he told news agency PTI.

Incidentally, after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira was allegedly found carrying gold at the Kolkata airport, the BJP had lodged a complaint with the EC against Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh.

Congress' Pradip Bhattacharya alleged that there were IPS officers who were working for the Trinamool Congress government and such move was always a welcome one.

"We had such complaints last time also. This year we have also seen that there are several IPS and IAS officers who are blatantly working for the ruling party. I have heard that the ECI has removed a few officers. But I do not understand why it has not taken any step against the officers in Malda and Raiganj. I am hopeful that the ECI will soon decide on this as well," he said.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty described the move as a positive one.

"During the chief minister's dharna we have seen how these officers showed they were working for the TMC government. These officers have forgotten to show respect to the uniform. I think this was a good move of the ECI otherwise free and fair elections were not possible," he said.