CAT relief to suspended IPS officer

The Cuttack bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today directed the Odisha government not to take any action against IPS officer Satish Kumar Gajbhiye until disposal of the officer's original application (OA) challenging his suspension order.
A CAT division bench comprising Judicial Member A K Pattanaik and Administrative Member R N Mishra held preliminary hearing on Gajbhiye's OA and asked the state government to file a counter affidavit and posted the matter to be taken up after four weeks.
The State government on August 13 had placed the Gajbhiye, then Kendrapara SP under suspension for alleged police excesses on people during a demonstration in Kendrapara district.

It was also alleged that the a 2002-batch officer was giving undue protection to 'godman' Sarathi Baba, who was facing wraths from people, for allegedly cheating them.
Gajbhiye was also embroiled in allegations of illegal acquisition of government land.
The Union government on October 20 confirmed the suspension of the IPS officer as per the All India Service Rules.
However, challenging the delay in framing draft charges against him, Gajbhiye approached the Tribunal challenging his suspension order.