ECI suspends Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar for violating election code

HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended Anjani Kumar, Director General of Police Telangana, on Sunday for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on Sunday.

Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar, State Police Nodal Officer Sanjay Jain, and CID chief Mahesh Bhagwat had all paid a visit to TPCC president Anumula Revanth Reddy. They congratulated him and presented him with a bouquet at his Hyderabad residence.

ECI wrote to Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj on Sunday, saying, It has been reported on 'X' (formally Twitter) from @ANI handle, @TimesNow handle, and TheSiasat Daily handle on December 3, 2023, that Anjani Kumar, DGP, Telangana, Sanjay Jain, Addl. DG, Telangana, and Mahesh Bhagwat, Addl. DG (Law & Order) met with Anumula Revanth Reddy, a contesting candidate in the ongoing general election to the Legislative Assembly of Telangana from Kamareddy and Kodangal constituency and also a Congress Star Campaigner at his Hyderabad residence."

The Commission received a report from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana, which stated that Anjani Kumar, DGP Telangana, along with Mahesh Bhagwat, Additional DG (Law & Order), and Sanjay Kumar Jain, Additional DG met Congress candidate Revanth Reddy on December 3, 2023, between 12:30 PM and 12:45 PM.

The Commission carefully examined the report and discovered that the aforementioned police officers met with Anumula Revanth Reddy on December 3, 2023 (Sunday), when the counting process was still in progress, and during the currency of the Model Code of Conduct in connection with the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Telangana, 2023, which became effective in the State on December 9, 2023.

Telangana police officers, including the Director General, were deemed deputation to the Election Commission of India under Section 28A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, from November 3, 2023, to December 5, 2023, as per Govt. of Telangana G.O. No. 1496.

According to ECI, the design of the law stems from the need for complete impartiality in the police setup, which is critical for providing security cover for the election process and impartial enforcement activities.

The Director General of Police Telangana meeting a contesting candidate out of a total of 2,290 candidates and the star campaigner of one political party out of 16 political parties in the fray with a flower bouquet at the candidate's residence while the counting process is still ongoing, along with two or more senior police officers, is a clear indication of mala fide intention of seeking favour, according to ECI.

This action by the senior most police officer and chief of police is clearly in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and relevant conduct rules. The ECI believes that any misconduct on the part of DGP Telangana not only sets the wrong example, but also sends unclear signals to field formations that continue to conduct elections.

Subordinate police officers in field formations may face disastrous consequences if they follow their seniors' footsteps to meet candidates while abandoning their counting and security-related duties.

The Commission after careful consideration of entire incident and facts Anjani Kumar, Director General of Police Telangana be placed under suspension immediately and next senior most eligible Police Officer of the State will be immediately given charge of Director General of Police, Telangana.