Was doing duty: IAS-officer, who checked Modi's chopper, speaks up
Mohammed Mohsin, the IAS officer who is facing action for allegedly checking PM Narendra Modi's chopper on April 16, said on Friday that he didn't violate any rules and was only following the guidelines of Election Commission. He was suspended by the top polling body prompting him to challenge the order before Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Notably, his suspension was revoked on Thursday.
Backstory: Mohsin broke rules by allegedly checking PM Modi's chopper
The row erupted when Mohsin allegedly checked PM Modi's helicopter in Sambalpur, Odisha, last week. His action delayed PM Modi's schedule by 15 minutes. It was claimed that Mohsin violated instructions on Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees. The suspension of the 1996-batch Karnataka cadre officer led to a political row with Congress batting for him asking PM Modi to come clean.
Was not at helipad when chopper landed: Mohsin
However, Mohsin, who was deployed as a general observer by EC, said he wasn't present at the helipad when PM Modi's chopper arrived. He told Deccan Chronicle that he wrote letters to Collector, Superintendent of Police and District Election Officer, Sambalpur, Odisha, seeking a copy of the complaint but didn't receive a reply. He said he would fight the case legally.
Mohsin claimed he hasn't been told his fault
"I was doing my duty. On the spur of the moment, they have suspended me. I have not received a single report that can tell me what I have done. I am fighting for myself in the dark," Mohsin told NDTV.
So, did Mohsin order filming of chopper? His answer here
Explaining the series of events, Mohsin said as an election observer his job is to see that video teams are utilized to full capacity. He said after giving them instructions he went to the venue and sat inside the police control room. The collector joined him too. Later he got a call from Deputy Chief Election Commissioner alleging that he ordered frisking.
Mohsin said he was suspended all of a sudden
"I got a call from the Deputy Chief Election Commissioner asking if I had ordered for frisking to be carried out, which I denied. He wanted a report and I replied. All of a sudden around 11.30 pm they suspended me," revealed Mohsin.
Don't belong to any party, follow rules: Mohsin
On Thursday, CAT said, "It cannot be said that SPG Protectees are eligible for anything and everything." The body noted that previously private vehicles of HD Kumaraswamy and Naveen Patnaik have been checked without any action. EC and Mohsin have been asked to reply within three weeks. Meanwhile, Mohsin said he has been a bureaucrat for 22 years. "I don't belong to any party. I go by rules," he said.
