NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday sought a report from the Tamil Nadu Government on the arrest of IPS probationer Safeer Karim for cheating during UPSC Mains examination on Monday.
Union Home Ministry is the cadre-controlling authority of the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. Once the report is received from the State Government, the Ministry will issue a show-cause notice to the officer and based on the explanation disciplinary action, including dismissal from service may be initiated, a senior Union Home Ministry official said.
The Ministry is likely to take stringent action and the probationary officer may even face dismissal from service if he fails to explain his 'conduct' during the Union Public Service Commission examination.
The officer was arrested allegedly for cheating during the examination Centre in Chennai using wireless headphone and a mobile phone.
Karim, hailing from Kerala, is an IPS officer of 2015-batch of Tamil Nadu cadre and is still a probationer. If the Ministry decides to take adverse action against Karim, the Government may not confirm his service or even dismiss him from service if his conduct during the examination is found to be in contravention of the Service Conduct Rules, the official said.
“Using unfair means during an examination is a very serious issue on the part of the IPS officer who is on probation. We have sought a detailed report from the State government and after going through the report, proceedings can be initiated against him,” the official said.
Karim was caught red-handed while allegedly cheating during the UPSC examination at a centre in Egmore, Chennai. He was attempting the examination to get selected for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He allegedly used the communication gadgets to relay the questions and seek answer from his wife who is reportedly a visiting faculty at an IAS coaching institute in Hyderabad.
Safeer was serving as station-in-charge at Nanguneri sub division in Tirunelveli district as part of his probation.