CAT stays EC's poll duties ban on IAS officer who "inspected" PM's helicopter

NEW DELHI: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has given a second reprieve to IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin, who was barred from poll duties by the Election Commission on April 25 over attempting to “inspect” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter at a rally in Odisha.

CAT on Wednesday stayed the EC order — also directing the Karnataka government to start disciplinary proceedings against Mohsin — while revoking his suspension.

The CAT order said, “It cannot be said that SPG protectees are eligible for anything and everything. Election officials have checked private vehicles of (Karnataka) chief minister (HD) Kumaraswamy more than once and no action followed… the Odisha chief minister’s vehicles were also checked.”


Mohsin, who was deployed as a general observer in Odisha by the EC, hit headlines after he was suspended over allegations of attempting to “inspect” Modi’s helicopter in Sambalpur on April 16.

Mohsin had moved CAT, which stayed the EC order and revoked his suspension last week.