Odisha govt revokes suspension of IPS officer Satish Gajbhiye

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government’s Home Department today revoked the suspension of IPS officer Satish Gajbhiye, who was the former Kendrapara Superintendent of Police (SP), sources said.

Home Department in its order has asked Gajbhiye to join work at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack, sources added.

Notably, Gajbhiye had courted controversy for providing extra protection to controversial self-proclaimed godman Srimad Sarathi Baba alias Santosh Raul during his tenure as S P Kendrapara.

The IPS officer was placed under suspension on August 13, 2015 – six days after using excessive force against agitating locals and BJP Kendrapara President near Sarathi Ashram of Kendrapara.

Charges such as violation of human rights and police excess had been levelled against him following the incident on August 7, 2015.

Prior to his suspension, the government had shunted him out to the police headquarters as an officer without duty at the height of the disturbances in Kendrapara on August 7 and replaced by Nitinjit Singh.

State Government was on the back foot as the IPS officer was mired in controversy not only over the Sarathi Baba issue but also because of purchase of a huge tract of land in his wife’s name in Nimapara.