Election Commission Orders Removal of Jharkhand’s Acting Police Chief Anurag Gupta

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the Jharkhand State Government to immediately remove Anurag Gupta from his role as the Acting Director General of Police (DGP). The ECI’s order mandates that Gupta hand over his duties to the most senior DGP-level officer available. The state government must confirm compliance by 7 PM today and submit a list of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers by 10 AM on October 21, 2024.

This decision follows a series of complaints and actions against Gupta in past elections. In 2019, during the General Elections to Lok Sabha, Gupta was removed from his position as ADG (Special Branch) in Jharkhand due to allegations of bias by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the ruling party in the state. He was reassigned to Delhi and restricted from returning to Jharkhand until the elections concluded.

In 2016, during the Biennial Elections to the Council of States from Jharkhand, Gupta faced accusations of authority misuse as Additional DGP. An inquiry committee led to a charge sheet for a departmental inquiry. Additionally, a case was registered against him in 2018, and in 2021, the Jharkhand government allowed an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.