Abhay Singh, a 2007-batch IAS officer, has been removed from observer duty for the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers' constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections following allegations of irregularities raised by a sitting BJP MLC.
According to an official communication from office of UP chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa, 2009-batch IAS officer Prakash Bindu has been pressed into duty replacing Singh.
The commission has directed Bindu to report to the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers' constituency on October 27, the scheduled polling day.
Singh has been placed in reserve pool following complaint submitted to the Election Commission by the sitting BJP MLC Devendra Pratap Singh, who raised allegations concerning the election process and referred to Singh's past record.
The official communication, however, does not specify the reasons for Singh's removal from observer duty.
What is the past of Abhay Singh?
In 2019, the CBI registered an FIR against Abhay Singh in a case related to illegal mining. At the time, he was the District Magistrate of Bulandshahar. The CBI had also recovered a large amount of cash from his residence.
Citing the earlier case, Devendra Pratap Singh had questioned whether Abhay Singh could remain impartial as the election observer. He told the commission that appointing an officer linked to such a controversy to oversee counting in the sensitive Teachers' Constituency could raise concerns about possible irregularities.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
