Orissa official suspended for sitting in KBC

Bhubaneswar, Feb 15 (UNI) His dream for sitting with Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan in the mega show hot seat KBC episode in Mumbai might have been fulfilled but at the cost of his government job.

Madanjeet Hota, a Panchayat Extension Officer posted at Loisinga block in Bolangir district of Western Orissa, was suspended for skipping the poll duty and joining the mega show.

Bolangir District Collector R.Santh Gopalan had suspended Mr Hota on February 13 when he did not turn up to attend the election duty during the first phase elections of the three-tier Panchayat bodies in the state.

Mr Hota reported to his senior that he was sick and had been admitted to a Nurshing Home in Sambalpur and so was unable to attend the poll duty. But the Block Development Officer (BDO) later came to know that Mr Hota was selected among the ten contestants from across the country to join the KBC episode in Mumbai.

The Bolangir District Collector, who made an inquiry, found that Mr Hota was not admitted in any of the Nurshing Homes in Sambalpur.

The Collector tried to contact Mr Hota but in vain and finally suspended him when despite all efforts, the officer failed to report for the election duty.

A communication in this regard was also sent to the State Election Commission for his approval and initiate action against the him under the law.

Official sources said the officer was yet to be traced and in the event of his absence from the headquarter without notice, he might face more stringent action of dismissal from the job.

UNI