Naveen suspends DGP Mohanti

Bhubaneswar, Aug 24 (UNI) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today suspended Orissa Director General of Police (Home Guard) B B Mohanti from the post hours after the Rajasthan police served a non- bailable arrest warrant (NBW) against him to the Cuttack Collector.

The NBW was served following a court order against the DGP for abetting his son Bitihotra, convicted and sentenced to seven-year imprisonment in Alwar rape case, jump parole on December 4.

The NBW was handed over to Cuttack Superintendent of Police Somendra Priyadarshi, who, however, could not execute it as Mohanti was neither available in his office nor at his residence in Cuttack.

Asked about Mohanty's presence, state Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra said he had no idea about Mohanti's whereabouts, but said the DGP would be arrested if he did not surrender before the police.

Sources said the one line suspension order was issued by the Chief Minister after he had a discussion with state Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy at his secretariat chamber.

Police said the suspension order would facilitate them to execute the arrest warrant on the DGP.

Eds here picking up from XXX line one, para four of CA 19 ''Crime-Orissa-Mohanti''.

UNI