Sharmili Mallick

Cuttack: The State Government has issued a ‘latka' (notice) to Inspector General (IG) with Odisha Police’s human rights protection cell (HRPC), NB Bharathi for her alleged professional misconduct and dereliction of duty.

As the Home Department could not reach the 1998-batch IPS officer Bharathi to serve the notice through any means, the concerned department reportedly put up the notice outside her office inside Odisha Police Headquarters premises at Buxi Bazaar in Cuttack.

Earlier on November 23, 2017, a notice along with articles of charges, statement of imputation of misconduct and memo of evidence were served to her through post in which she was directed to submit a written statement in her defence within 30 days.

However, when the Law Department did not receive any response from the IPS officer, it served another notice to Bharathi on September 30 last year.

The department also gave her a week's time to appear in person and submit a reply. However, as Bharathi did not respond to any of the notices against her, the Law Department issued a ‘latka’ and ordered disciplinary action against her.

Allegations of dereliction of duty and misconduct were levelled against Bharathi when she was holding the post of DIG - Police Mordernisation.

Vinaytosh Mishra, Additional DG of Police has been appointed as the Inquiring Officer (IO) to investigate the allegations levelled against Bharathi.

Sources said, Bharathi has remained absent from work for a long time without informing her seniors. The IPS officer could not be contacted in connection with the allegations.

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