Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rajnish Rai has been suspended by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for allegedly "abdicating" his office as the IG and Principal of CRPF training school at Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
Rai, who had arrested D G Vanzara and two other IPS officers in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case in 2007, was serving as inspector general and principal of the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorism (CIAT) School of the Central Reserve Police Force.
The order passed by the home ministry on December 17 said Rai had been placed under suspension for "unauthorised handing over the charge of IG and Principal, CIAT School, CRPF, Chittoor and abdication of office on November 30."
He was suspended as per the provisions of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, it said.
Rai will have to stay at the CRPF headquarters at Chittoor during the period the order remains in force, and cannot leave the headquarters without the permission of the Director General, CRPF, the home ministry order said.
Rai had earlier this year sought voluntary retirement with effect from November 30 after completing 50 years of age under the provisions of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules, 1958, but the Centre rejected his request in October.
He moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Ahmedabad challenging the rejection. The CAT will be hearing the matter on January 1.
In August 2014 Rai was transferred out of Gujarat as Chief Vigilance Officer of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) at Jaduguda in Jharkhand. In April 2015 he was transferred to the CRPF office at Shillong.
After his report on suspected fake encounters in the North East, he was transferred to the CIAT at Chittoor and a "departmental misconduct" charge sheet was served on him, Rai had alleged.
He moved the CAT at Hyderabad against the charge sheet, and the tribunal stayed the proceedings against him.
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