Election Commission of India suspends five West Bengal police officers for neutrality failure
Why it matters
Maintaining the integrity of the electoral process is the primary mandate of the Election Commission of India under Article 324 of the Constitution. During the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, several complaints were lodged against specific police officers regarding partisan conduct. After a preliminary investigation, the ECI found sufficient evidence that the officers, including ASP Sandip Garai and SDPO Sajal Mondal, had not adhered to the strict code of conduct required of civil servants during the election period.
The suspension is an administrative measure intended to prevent any further interference in the polling process. The officers have been removed from election duty immediately and attached to the state police headquarters, pending a full departmental inquiry. Such actions are common in high-stakes elections to reassure voters and political parties of the commission's impartiality. The ECI has simultaneously directed the State Government to appoint neutral replacements to ensure that the security and law-and-order situation in sensitive constituencies like Diamond Harbour and Falta remains stable.
| Officer Name | Designation/Post | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Sandip Garai | Additional SP | Diamond Harbour |
| Sajal Mondal | SDPO | Diamond Harbour |
| Mausam Chakraborty | Inspector-in-Charge | Diamond Harbour PS |
| Ajay Bag | Inspector-in-Charge | Falta PS |
Glossary
Model Code of Conduct: A set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections.