The Election Commission on Sunday ordered the suspended IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin to return to his home cadre and report to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka. Mohsin was suspended last week by the Election Commission for ordering an inspection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter in Odisha’s Sambalpur district, where the latter had visited to address an election rally.
The new order by the Election Commission read, “With reference to Commission’s Order No.464/OR/2019, dated 16.04.2019, it is further directed that the headquarters of Sh Mohammed Mohsin, IAS (KN-1996) will be the Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, Bengaluru in place of Sambalpur, Odisha with immediate effect.”
Mohammed Mohsin, IAS who was suspended by EC for ordering to check PM’s chopper has been asked by EC to leave Sambalpur and to report to Karnataka CEO.
Mohsin to return to Bangalore tonight pic.twitter.com/jA2fRtHaUx— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) April 21, 2019
While suspending Mohsin, the Election Commission’s order had read, “.. Commission places Sh Mohammed Mohsin, IAS, (KN-1996) under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders. The headquarters for Sh Mohammed Mohsin shall be Sambhalpur, Odisha, until further notice.”
The Election Commission had come under considerable criticism for making up a non-existent provision to save Modi from embarrassment. The topic had gained momentum also because the Congress had accused Modi of using his helicopter for transporting black money. The party had approached the Election Commission demanding a probe into a large trunk that was being shifted from Modi’s helicopter to a nearby parked Innova car in Karnataka.