New Delhi, May 16: Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Thursday reported at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per the orders of the Election Commission (EC). Kumar was relieved from duty as Additional Director General, CID, in West Bengal by the poll panel. The decision to relieve Kumar was taken because of the increasing incidents of violence in the state during the Lok Sabha elections. Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha Constituency in West Bengal: Candidates, Current MP, Polling Date And Election Results 2019.

He was directed to report to the Home Ministry - the cadre controlling authority for the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers -  by the Commission, the officials said. The EC also ordered the removal of Principal Secretary (Home) Atri Bhattacharya.

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, the EC had on Wednesday invoked Article 324 and ordered campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 PM on May 16,  a day before its scheduled deadline, in the wake of violence between BJP and TMC workers in Kolkata. Amit Shah's Kolkata Rally Ends in Violence; TMC, BJP Workers Injured in Police Lathi-Charge.

Earlier in February, Kumar was involved in a face-off with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the agency's investigation in Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams. He was also questioned by the premier investigation agency after the face-off.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Friday on the CBI application seeking vacation of the order which granted interim protection from arrest to the former Kolkata Police Commissioner.

(With inputs from PTI)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2019 11:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).