Bhubaneswar: The suspension tenure of IPS officer Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao has been extended for another 60 days with effect from January 26. A decision in this regard was taken by the Odisha Home Department.
This decision comes after a review committee scrutinized data and documents against Uttamrao, who has been under suspension since July 30 last year for grave misconduct as a member of the Indian Police Service.
Uttamrao, a 2007-batch IPS officer, was initially suspended for 120 days, which concluded today. The review committee, led by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, met on January 22 to assess Pandit’s case and recommended the extension of his suspension.
The Odisha government has been taking disciplinary action against Pandit, who was posted as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Fire Services and Home Guards, since last year.
It is pertinent to mention that Uttamrao was suspended on July 30, 2024, by the Odisha government for violating Indian Police Service rules. The suspension followed an incident that occurred on July 27, 2024 under the Capital Police Station area, where Uttamrao allegedly forcibly entered the residence of a married lady inspector serving in the Bhubaneswar Economic Offences Wing of the Odisha Crime Branch. As per the allegations, Uttamrao attempted to drag the lady inspector out of her house and pressured her to marry him.
This incident led to the suspension of Uttamrao under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.
