A day ahead of the deadline given by the High Court Bar Association and the two major political parties, BJP and Congress, the State Government suspended former Kendrapada SP Satish Kumar Gajbhiye on Thursday evening.
Gajbhiye has been in the dock for leading the brutal charge against people demonstrating in Kendarapada demanding action against Sarathi Baba on August 7 and for illegal acquisition and encroachment of about 40 acres of land in Gop block in Puri district in his wife's name. The HC Bar Association had served an ultimatum that it would boycott the Independence Day celebrations if the Government did not act against Gajbhiye by Friday. The Congress had threatened to gherao the Raj Bhavan on August 17 if action was not taken against the IPS officer while the BJP had announced that it would gherao the DGP's office in Cuttack on Friday.
Civil society organisations too had submitted a memorandum to the Governor asking for action against the controversial officer. It remains to be seen, however, if a mere suspension would satisfy those calling for Gajbhiye's arrest and initiation of criminal proceedings against him. Meanwhile, a lower court in Cuttack on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking to bring Satish Gajbhiye under the purview of the ongoing investigation by the Crime Branch pertaining to Sarathi Baba. SDJM B Gautam dismissed the petition filed by a High Court lawyer observing that it was "premature" to take a decision on the matter. The magistrate, however, was of the opinion that if any relevant evidence is available with the petitioner, he is at liberty to approach the Crime Branch.