Senior IAS officer in boozing controversy

Patna, Dec 5 (UNI) Senior IAS officer and Chairman of Public Enterprises Bureau R C Vaishya today denied he had consumed liquor in his official chamber and manhandled a grade four employee in an inebriated condition on July 6 this year.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Vaishya dismissed the allegation as rubbish and branded it as an attempt of vested interests to defame him.

He denied he had thrashed a night guard on July 6, saying he had levelled false allegations after he was prevented from getting access to confidential documents.

''Mr Kumar was trying to go through the contents of the confidential documents when the same were being photocopied in the department,'' he recalled.

Mr Vaishya said general secretary of Bihar state fourth grade employees union Ganga Kumar Jha gatecrashed into his official chamber the same day and alleged that he had consumed intoxicating substances.

''In fact I was enjoying black tea only,'' he insisted.

Mr Vaishya cited the visit of two senior IAS officers that day to his chamber and they found him normal and said some district officials gave incorrect statement about his intoxication since his official chamber was closed at 10 PM on the day in question while the said officials quoted 1015 PM as the hour when he was described to be under influence of liquor.

When asked the reason behind the denial after five months, he said he had again made his position clear as the state government had sought clarification on the issue.

'' Earlier I had refuted the allegation and also complained against a TV channel which had telecast news story claiming that I was taking liquor in the official chamber while the substance in question was black tea and not wine, '' he added.

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