BHOPAL : The removal of JN Malpani from the post of Tribal Commissioner for allegedly asking for bribe in an indirect way in a tapped audio conversation has sent shock waves in bureaucrats. The officers are also demanding action on Assistant Commissioner RK Shroti, who leaked the said taped telephonic conversation.
Earlier, a taped telephonic conversation by Executive Engineer KK Singore was leaked that led to removal of Datia’s former Collector Prakash Jangre. In this case, both the officers were removed.
A senior IAS officer maintains that officers do reprimand their subordinates on phone at times but if their taped conversation is made viral then it would become difficult to work. Another IAS officer on the condition of anonymity said there may be a possibility of tempering with audio of Malpani. He said if subordinates are going to tap conversation then it would be difficult to prove the context under which something was said.
However, the incident has also developed a sort of fear in officers over talking on phone. Some officers are looking for new technology so that they may know if their phone call is being taped. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan too became a victim of taping of audio conversation. BJP leader Rajesh Chaudhary during Garoth Assembly by-polls had leaked his conversation. In the said conversation, Chaudhary was allegedly promised a post in the government for working in support of the party candidate. Another audio conversation of Chauhan with MLA Murlidhar Patidar was leaked during the last year in the state.
Chauhan’s wrath falls on 5 promotees, 3 RR’s in two months
In the last two months in the state, as many as 8 IAS officers have faced Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s wrath. Amongst these IAS officers, five officers are promotees while three are regular recruitment (RR). They have been removed following complaints.
Datia Collector Prakash Jangre was removed for slapping an Executive Engineer before removing of Tribal Commissioner JN Malpani and Rajgarh Collector Anand Sharma. Bhind Collector Madhukar Agneya was removed for misbehaving with a woman farmer. Ashoknagar Collector RB Prajapati had to face Chauhan’s ire for not taking action on PDS shops. Chauhan transferred Shilpa Gupta from the post of Morena Collector and Ajay from the post of Gwalior Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, on the basis of complaints. Chauhan also removed Neemuch Collector Nandkumaran on the basis of a complaint made by Transport Minister Bhupendra Singh.
