Suspended IPS Officer Reinstated, Case Investigation Continues

Nearly a year after suspension for alleged misconduct with a woman tourist in Goa, IPS officer Dr. A Koan has been reinstated by President Droupadi Murmu. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has transferred him to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but the inquiry against him remains ongoing.

Nearly a year after he was suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a woman tourist at a Goa beach club, a 2009-batch IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre, Dr. A Koan, has been reinstated by President Droupadi Murmu. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has transferred him to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, officials privy to the case told ANI that the inquiry against the IPS officer is ongoing.

Koan was suspended by President Murmu on August 16 last year following a report by the Goa Police to the MHA. He was accused of misbehaving with a woman tourist at a beach club in North Goa while intoxicated. At the time, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated in the Assembly that 'strict action would be taken' against Koan and that such behavior would not be tolerated. In a recent update, the MHA issued two separate orders on July 11. One of the orders mentions, 'The President, after considering the facts and current circumstances of the case, has concluded that the continuation of the suspension of Dr. A Koan, IPS (AGMUT: 2009) is no longer in the public interest and, therefore, his suspension may be revoked.'

The document clearly stated that the President exercised the powers conferred under Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, and revoked Koan's suspension with 'immediate effect' and 'reinstated' him in service. Another order indicated that 'with the approval of the Competent Authority, Koan is transferred from Goa and posted to Andaman and Nicobar Islands with immediate effect and until further orders.'

Following an MHA order dated August 16, 2023, Koan was placed under suspension as disciplinary proceedings were contemplated against him, in terms of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The suspension of Koan has been reviewed periodically, and based on the recommendations of the Review Committee, his suspension tenure was extended for 180 days beyond February 10, 2024, until August 7, 2024.

V Candavelou, an IAS officer of the 1997 AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the Inquiring Officer, and Omvir Singh Bishnoi, a 2004-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been appointed as the Presenting Officer for the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Koan. It has been observed that 'the inquiry in respect of the disciplinary proceedings against Koan is ongoing.' 'However, there are no allegations of corruption against Koan, and neither any criminal proceedings nor any judicial inquiry is pending or contemplated against the charged officer as of date.'

The President, after reviewing the facts and current circumstances of the case, concluded that the continuation of Koan's suspension was no longer in the public interest and ordered his reinstatement. Koan allegedly misbehaved with a female partygoer on the intervening night of August 7-8, 2023, at a nightclub in North Goa's tourist hotspot of Calangute while on medical leave. A video of the incident later went viral.

(With inputs from agencies.)