Gujarat CM suspends then secretary of Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board, second suspension of IAS official in Gujarat in less than two months

Gandhinagar: In the second suspension of an IAS officer in less than two months, the Gujarat government has suspended the then secretary of Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board Anil Patel who was currently working as the additional secretary in the Panchyat, rural housing and rural development department.

Earlier in November this year the state government had suspended the then municipal commissioner of Junagadh and IAS officer V J Rajput in connection with alleged irregularities during his tenure.

A senior official in the General Administration department today said that CM Vijay Rupani has suspended Patel for violating the discipline and rules of the Gujarat State Service (Conduct) Rules 1971.

Notably, an audio tape of Patel with a man had come to fore. In the tape it was said that there were scams/discrepancies in the various yatradham (pilgrimage development) projects in Gujarat including Pavagadh, Bahucharaji, Sabaridham, Dwarka etc. That man had made complaint in the Anti Corruption Bureau of Gujarat police on the basis of the information provided to him by Patel.

The CM has also decided to hand over the probe of the allegations/scams to the vigilance commissioner. He has said that if the allegation were found to be true then there should be strict action against the responsible officials.

Patel has been found to violate the rule nine of the said rules which prohibits a government official from issuing statement against a government policy. He has also been found to violate rule 10 which stops an official who is officially incompetent for doing so, from sharing information with anybody. He has also been found to violate the circular of science and technology department dated November 29.

The CM has also issued instructions regarding keeping him attached with SPIPA -Rajkot during the suspension period and also regular monitoring of his attendance.

What happened?

-RTI activist Nathwani called officer Patel and complained him about alleged corruption and poor construction in Board project in Pavagadh.

– Patel in reply said he was transferred to another department, but agreed with Nathwani that there was too much corruption in Yatradham Board project not just at Pavagadh but elsewhere.

– When RTI activist told Patel that he was planning to file complain at Anti Corruption Bureau, Patel suggested that it would not solve the issue as everything, right from higher officers, minister, CBI, ACB were in collusion.

– Patel later in a phone talk with a Gujarati news channel also spoke about corruption at other projects of Yatradham board including Dwarka, related complains that were received, probe that had been ordered, but at last nothing could happen.

– RTI activist Nathwani shared recorded audio of this phone talk with media and also put it on social media.

– This was embracing for government, as its own class-one officer was speaking and sharing details about alleged corruption.

– The Gujarat government issued rejoinder and denied that there was any corruption in any of said projects taken up by Yatradham board.

– The government handed over probe into corruption allegations.

– The officer was found to be in violation of service rules. He was suspended.

– RTI activist, based on the audio talk recording in his possession went to Anti Corruption Bureau seeking action against alleged corruption.

DeshGujarat