A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking removal of Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma as election observer for West Bengal polls [Aditya Das v. Election Commission of India]..The petition filed by one Aditya Das has alleged lack of neutrality and flagged his conduct during election duty. The case is yet to be listed for hearing.Sharma, known as Uttar Pradesh's encounter specialist, courted controversy after a video went viral on social media in which he was seen issuing a warning to Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Jehangir Khan.TMC took strong objection to the officer's conduct and criticised the ECI for failing to act against the officers..A similar petition against Sharma has been filed before the Calcutta High Court as well alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Sharma.The High Court on Tuesday declined to pass any urgent orders on that plea.Justice Krishna Rao of High Court said that he would not pass any direction against any officer on the election day till April 29, the final phase of polling in West Bengal."I am indicating that I will not pass any order with regard to any officer who are in election duty till [April] 29. Come after April 29, I will pass order," the Court said.When the counsel for the petitioner said the officer was threatening voters, the Court asked him to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI)."What can be done. What will we do?" the High Court said.
