Dr. A. Koan was suspended by President Murmu on August 16 of last year after the Goa Police reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that he had misbehaved with a woman tourist at a beach club in North Goa. (File)

Officer A. Koan was suspended by President Murmu on August 16 last year after the Goa Police reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that he had misbehaved with a tourist at a beach club in North Goa.

Almost a year after being suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a woman tourist in Goa, a 2009-batch IPS officer, A. Koan, has had his suspension revoked by President Droupadi Murmu, and the Union government has transferred him to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Officer A. Koan was suspended by President Murmu on August 16 last year after the Goa Police reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that he had misbehaved with a tourist at a North Goa beach club. The police alleged that Koan, from the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre, was inebriated at the time of the incident. Last year, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the Assembly that “strict action will be taken” against Koan, stating, “we will not tolerate this.”

An order issued on July 11 by Undersecretary Rakesh Kumar Singh detailed the proceedings: “Whereas, vide MHA’s order of August 16, 2023, Dr. A. Koan was placed under suspension as disciplinary proceedings were contemplated against him, in terms of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969. His case has been reviewed from time to time, and based on the Review Committee’s recommendations, his suspension tenure was extended for 180 days beyond February 10, 2024, until August 7, 2024, vide MHA’s order of February 9.”

The order further stated: “And whereas, vide MHA’s memorandum of charge January 31, disciplinary proceedings under Rule 8 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, were initiated against Dr. Koan. Thereafter, vide MHA’s orders of June 19, Dr. V. Candavelou, IAS of AGMUT cadre-1997 batch, and Omvir Singh Bishnoi, IPS of AGMUT cadre-2004 batch, were appointed as inquiring officer and presenting officer, respectively, in respect of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him.”

However, Singh’s order also noted that Koan faced no corruption allegations, criminal proceedings, or judicial inquiries. “The President, after considering the facts and current circumstances of the case, has concluded that the continuation of Dr. Koan’s suspension is no longer in public interest and, therefore, his suspension may be revoked. The President, exercising powers conferred under Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby revokes his suspension with immediate effect and reinstates him in service,” the order stated.

A few hours later, another order from the MHA, signed by Singh, stated: “With the approval of the Competent Authority, Dr. A. Koan is hereby transferred from Goa and posted to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands with immediate effect and until further orders.” In its report to the MHA last year, the Goa Police mentioned that Koan was on medical leave for a spondylitis-related neck ailment. According to an officer, “He visited a beach-facing nightclub in the Baga area late Monday (August 7) night. A woman was partying with her friends at the club. The incident took place around 4 am. There was no formal complaint, but allegations were made that he accosted the woman and passed objectionable remarks. The woman then slapped him.”