IPS officer reinstated after Goa Beach misconduct in 2023, transferred to Andaman

New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): 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 AGMUT cadre was reinstated by President Droupadi Murmu and 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 Dr A Koan is ongoing.

Koan was suspended by President Murmu on August 16 last year following a report by the Goa Police to the MHA, accusing him 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 behaviour would not be tolerated.

In a fresh update, the MHA issued two separate orders on July 11. One of the orders mentions “President, after considering the facts and current circumstances of the case, has come to the conclusion that 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”.

It clearly pointed out that the President exercised the powers conferred under Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, and revoked the suspension of Koan with “immediate effect” and “reinstated” him in service.

Another order reads 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 from time and time in terms of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 and, based on the recommendations of the Review Committee, the suspension tenure of the officer was extended for 180 days beyond February 10, 2024 till August 7, 2024.

Inquiring Officer of the case V Candavelou, an IAS officer of the 1997 AGMUT cadre and Presenting Officer Omvir Singh Bishnoi, a 2004-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer have been appointed in respect of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Koan and 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 considering the facts and current circumstances of the case, concluded that the continuation of the suspension of Koan was no longer in the public interest and his suspension was revoked.

Koan allegedly misbehaved with a female partygoer at a nightclub in North Goa’s tourist hotspot of Calangute in August 2023. While on medical leave, on the intervening night of August 7-8, 2023, Koan allegedly visited Las Olas Bar and Restaurant and misbehaved with a woman tourist at the restaurant in an inebriated state. A video of the incident later went viral.