KOLKATA: The Election Commission on Tuesday removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for his alleged bias towards the ruling TMC even as the Opposition expressed fears of ‘TMC terror’ in the second phase of polling on April 17.
The EC, under fire following Monday’s polling, took the decision in the wake of several complaints against Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta and Rakesh Kumar.
The immediate trigger is the State BJP’s complaint about an alleged sting operation by two men of the Kolkata police to bribe party national secretary and nominee for the Jorasanko Assembly seat Rahul Sinha at the behest of Rajeev. The EC appointed ADG CID Soumen Mitra, who is known to be an official of high integrity, as the new commissioner, indicating that it will act if police or civil officials act partially during the polls.
TMC sources said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would bring back Rajeev after the elections just as she had reinstated six police officials removed by the EC during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This is the first time a Kolkata Police Commissioner has been removed on charges of bias and it is a big blow to the TMC.
Controversies are not new to Rajeev. Opposition parties had earlier accused him of destroying evidence in the multi-crore-rupees Saradha chit fund scam when he was commissioner of the Bidhannagar city police. All Opposition parties welcomed the EC move as there are more than 24 Assembly seats within greater Kolkata where several ministers are in the fray and will be a deciding factor for Mamata.
State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, meanwhile, has also written to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi demanding the removal of the Deputy Commissioner of the poll panel, Sandeep Saxena. Adhir alleged, “The Deputy Commissioner has sold himself to the TMC. During the first phase of polling on April 4 and 11, Central forces were not deployed and were seen taking rest. Under such circumstances, his role is doubtful and he should be removed from supervising polls.”
Ex-SC Judge Steps In
Save Democracy Forum, led by former SC judge Asoke Ganguly, moved the EC alleging violence by the TMC and apprehending violence. The second phase polling will be held on April 17 in 56 constituencies.
EC Official Under Fire
State Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury has also written to CEC Nasim Zaidi demanding the removal of EC’s deputy commissioner Sandeep Saxena for allegedly favouring the ruling TMC government.
