Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), June 28: A day after the Home Department sought information on IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh’s whereabouts, Odisha DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi clarified on Friday that Singh had resumed his duties as DIG of the Special Intelligence Wing on June 3.
“He was granted leave from May 4 to June 2 and returned to duty as scheduled on June 3, which was known to all of us. Normally, our department sends his joining report to the Home Department, and I will investigate why this was not done,” DGP Sarangi informed reporters.
The DGP mentioned that Singh had attended several departmental meetings, including one on Rath Yatra coordination and another regarding new criminal laws.
Earlier, on Thursday, the additional secretary of Home, Muralidhar Mallik, had requested information from the DGP about Singh’s duty status, citing a lack of communication regarding his return.
Despite Singh’s attendance at a Rath Yatra coordination meeting chaired by the DGP on June 26, the Home Department’s letter indicated a lack of awareness regarding his participation.
Singh had taken earned leave for a month starting from May 4 due to health reasons. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had recommended action against him for allegedly misrepresenting his health condition. Following an examination by a special medical board at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, as directed by the commission, Singh was declared physically and mentally fit.
