By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Gone are the days, when IPS officer Bijay Kumar Sharma ventures, people used to say, CBI man is coming but things took a U turn after the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a late night operation, shifted Sharma from Police Headquarters’ and depute him at Home Department as OSD.
Sources said, Sharma IPS officer of 1986 batch , hails from Baripada in Odisha’s tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district, will face more tough time with Chief Minister Patnaik setting up a 3-members panel to probe allegations against the former DGP.
Government ordered an inquiry against senior police officer Bijay Kumar Sharma after coming across gross irregularities in fire safety certificate allotment to industries during his incumbency as the Director-General of Fire Services.
A 3-members probe panel including Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra and the Home Secretary has been constituted by the State government to probe allegations against Sharma.
“Huge pendency of applications for issuance of fire safety recommendations and certificates in the Directorate of Fire Services has caused immense inconvenience not only to the general public but also to business, industry, educational and medical establishments,” a notification from the Home Department stated. Following this, the State government also transferred BK Sharma as OSD Home Department.
It may be noted here that, State Government had in similar style in late night operation, had shiftd then DGP Amarananda Pattanaik and deputed Gopal Nanda is his place and likewise, Naveen Patnaik did it again with BK Sharma, facing serious charges.
Earlier, late on Wednesday night, in a surprise move, Patnaik Government on Wednesday transferred the incumbent DGP Sharma and appointed 1986 batch IPS officer Abhay as new State Police Chief.
Abhay is presently working as Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad.
The incumbent DGP BK Sharma has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Department of Home.
1988 Batch IPS officer Satyajit Mohanty has been appointed as Special DG Intelligence and will remain in charge as DGP till Abhay assumes office.
Mohanty was Director General of Prisons & Director Correctional Services, Odisha. Mohanty took over as In Charge DGP Odisha on 20 November and he will continue till Abhay takes charge of DGP.
1987-batch Odisha cadre IPS officer Sunil Roy has been appointed as DG Fire Services, Home Guards & Civil Defence
