The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the suspension of Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Arvind Kumar, who was the election observer of Bahraich assembly constituency which went to polls in the fourth phase on April 23. The panel had earlier directed the Bahraich administration to lodge an FIR against Kumar for his highly objectionable behaviour.
The district administration, in its report, has alleged that a drunk Kumar came to the Galla Mandi grounds where electronic voting machines were being deposited after polling on April 23. He reportedly created a ruckus there, snatching the carbine of a guard and threatening the poll personnel. Chief electoral officer A.K. Bishnoi said “the commission “had collected information from its own sources about the behaviour of the officer”.
The commission has also placed chief development officer Kushinagar H.S. Chaturvedi under suspension for violation of the code of conduct. Chaturvedi had released panchayat funds after the announcement of poll dates