Maharashtra IAS officer under fire shifted

Mumbai, Sep 7 Maharashtra government today shifted a senior IAS officer from agriculture to administrative reforms department, after he faced the ire of Mantralaya staffers for allegedly not an allowing official to leave home early to see to his son who later committed suicide.

Additional Chief Secretary Bhagwan Sahai, who was in the agriculture department before he was asked to go on forced leave, has been shifted as additional chief secretary (administrative reforms), an official said.

Three other IAS officers were also transferred today, including C V Oak, who was transferred as Secretary of State Election Commission.

The Mantralaya employees had last month staged a protest against Sahai and sought his suspension pending an inquiry, for allegedly not letting an official leave for home early. The official's son had later committed suicide.

On August 11, Agriculture Department Joint Secretary Rajesh Ghadge sought permission from Sahai to leave for home early as his wife and son were having a fight and he wanted to sort out the matter. Sahai, reportedly, denied his consent.

Later, Ghadge's son Avadhoot, a Class XII student, committed suicide. Sahai was sent on forced leave and an inquiry was instituted against him for not allowing his junior colleague to go home early on August 11, despite his son threatening to commit suicide.

The Mantralaya employees also alleged that Sahai had insulted officials and employees, including women, and even threatened to place them under suspension.

PTI