India, April 29 -- A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court for 'urgent' removal of IPS Ajay Pal Sharma as police observer from poll-bound Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, HT has learnt. The petition terms Sharma as 'highly partisan and acting contrary to the role prescribed to him.'

The petition, seen by HT, alleged that Sharma upon assuming his charge as the police observer "engaged in acts of intimidation, undue influence, and partisan conduct, including threats directed at political candidates".

Sharma's role in several key security operations during his postings across Uttar Pradesh earned him the reputation of "encounter specialist".

Sharma's deployment by the Election Commission kicked up another big row between the in...