Dispute at Raj Bhavan as IRS Officers Taken to Police Station
Incident Overview
Two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers were reportedly escorted to the Capital police station after being turned away from Odisha’s Raj Bhavan. The event unfolded on Thursday when the officers arrived on official duty to coordinate a meeting involving the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (PCCIT), Odisha, who was set to pay a courtesy visit to the Governor, Hari Babu Kambhampati, along with a delegation.
According to sources, the security staff at Raj Bhavan contacted the police, leading to the two officers being transported to the police station in a police vehicle. One of the officers is noted to have visited Raj Bhavan frequently and has previously met the Governor on multiple occasions.
Details of the Incident
As outlined by a petition filed by one of the officers, they were waiting in a hall adjacent to the aide-de-camp’s chamber when they were approached by four to five police personnel. They were informed that they had gained unauthorized access to Lok Bhavan, despite identifying themselves and stating that they were waiting with the consent of Governor Kambhampati’s staff.
The petition describes that the IRS officers complied with the police’s instructions, offering to leave in their own vehicle. However, they were instructed to accompany the police in their vehicle, to which they agreed.
Aftermath and Reactions
Upon arriving at the Capital Police Station, the officers were ultimately allowed to leave. However, they were later notified to return to the station as a security staff member at Lok Bhavan had reported that one officer appeared to be intoxicated. The officers offered to submit to a breath analyzer test, which the police declined, stating that there were no complaints regarding their sobriety and that testing was unnecessary.
One officer expressed particular embarrassment over the situation, noting his family’s connection to Lok Bhavan; his father served in the premises for over three decades and retired as Deputy Secretary to the Governor.
PCCIT’s Concern
D. Sudhakara Rao, the PCCIT, expressed his distress regarding how the young officers were treated as if they were unauthorized entrants. He officially addressed his concerns to the commissioner-cum-secretary to the Governor. Rao highlighted that the treatment of the officers was inappropriate, considering that their support staff remained undisturbed on the premises and emphasized that allegations about their sobriety were unfounded.
Rao further asserted that such treatment of senior civil servants undermines the dignity associated with their positions.
Official Response
In response to the incident, a senior official from Raj Bhavan commented that the matter could have been managed more amicably by the ADC (police). The official stated that there was no reason for the civil servants to be taken to the police station in a manner that could be deemed humiliating, and indicated that an internal investigation would be initiated.
Roopa Roshan Sahoo, the commissioner-cum-secretary to the Governor, acknowledged receipt of the PCCIT’s petition and affirmed that the matter would be verified.
