A day after Odia daily Sambad published photographs of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) dozing off at a public function, the State Government on Tuesday launched a probe to determine whether there had been any security lapse on the part of the PSO.
One of the two photos captured the napping moments in which PSO, Deputy Commandant Jawahar Patel, was dozing behind the Chief Minister’s seat on the dais at the inaugural function of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) here on Monday.
One photograph showed the Chief Minister yawning and the PSO asleep while the second showed both of them asleep.Even before his inaugural address, the Chief Minister was seen yawning and eventually snoozing on the dais.
As the pictures were a source of embarrassment for the ruling BJD, an explanation was sought from PSO whether he was sleeping. As his reply was found unsatisfactory, a probe has been ordered by the Home Department, sources said.
The inquiry would be conducted by an SP-rank officer. Stills and videotapes have been sought to ascertain the truth about the incident, the sources revealed. As per established standard procedure, the PSO is supposed to keep standing behind the Chief Minister right through a meeting keeping an eye on any suspicious movement.