Search for Khot on: Deshmukh

Mumbai, May 18 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the search for suspended additional Chief Secretary Ashok Khot, who has been declared a 'proclaimed offender' was on.

''Khot ki khoj jaari hai,'' Mr Deshmukh told reporters here.

City Police Commissioner A N Roy told UNI yesterday that Khot has been declared as proclaimed offender in the chief metropolitan magistrate's court.

Khot, along with former Maharashtra Transport Minister Surupsingh Naik, were sentenced to serve a month's simple imprisonment by the Supreme Court for contempt of court on May 10.

Naik had surrendered to the police on May 13, but later was admitted to the J J Hospital after he complained of high blood pressure on May 15. Khot, however, has evaded arrest so far.

Naik and Khot were sentenced to a month's simple imprisonment for violating Supreme Court orders of 1997 which had directed closure of over 100 saw mills operating from the reserved forest areas. Naik, who was the State Forest Minister in 2004, and Khot who was the Principal Forest Secretary, had, however, allowed six saw mills to operate in violation of the apex court's orders.

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