Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18: The Odisha government has asked former Kendrapara police superintendent Satish Gajbhiye to explain why action should not be initiated against him within 30 days for the alleged excesses committed by the cops under his leadership during demonstration against Sarathi baba.

Gajbhiye was suspended on August 23 over the alleged police excesses against protesters demanding arrest of the self-styled spiritual leader Santosh Raula alias Sarathi. In its showcause notice, the home department also said that if he wished to explain his stand personally, he could do so with prior permission.

According to the notice, Gajbhiye had grossly misutilised his power and failed to rein in the police force during the demonstrations. In his presence, the force went berserk and the cops even burnt motorcycles and unleashed a reign of terror on the innocent people on August 6 when they were staging a demonstration outside Sarathi's ashram on the outskirts of Kendrapara town. On the next day, in Gajbhiye's presence, the police had made an advocate do sit-ups.

The notice also asked him to explain how he had spoken to the media without taking the government's permission. The All India Service Rules prohibit an all India service officer in indulging in such acts.

When the sit-up issue had snowballed into a major controversy, Gajbhiye had posted a letter on Twitter, saying that he did not do many of things he had been accused of and used minimum force to control the mob. In an interview to The Telegraph, he had said: "I want to clarify again that the police had used force in a restrained way. No public was injured while 10 policemen had sustained injuries due to the mob attack. Being the district police chief, I acted according to the law. I don't think that attracts suspension. If the government suspends me, I will see what I can do under the law."

He had further said: "I have carefully written my response. Nowhere I have said (on the social media) what was wrong and what was right. When I saw that a section of media tried to project me as villain and did not portray the true incidents, I felt it proper to express my views on the social media. Otherwise, it would have had a demoralising effect on the police force. Even I notice senior officials sometimes post their views on the social media."

Gajbhiye is still under suspension.

Director-general of police Sanjeev Marik said: "The government has already initiated disciplinary action against him and served a notice to him. One should be given a reasonable time to explain his stand."

In another development, the Odisha vigilance department is inquiring into the alleged illegal acquisition of land by Gajbhiye at Sanakiapala in Puri district. The local tehsildar has visited the place, along with a vigilance team. The vigilance had quizzed the IPS officer for acquiring land in an unauthorised way for pisciculture in his wife's name.