BHOPAL : In telephonic conversation with PWD Executive Engineer Kamal Kishore Singore, who had accused Datia collector of slapping him, the latter admitted that he had indeed slapped him bit it was in a fit of anger.
The Collector had phoned the EE asking that why he was making it an issue. “Whatever happened, has happened. The matter is over”, the collector added.
Collector said, “I am not such a person and you verify it from your subordinates but as you were continuously refusing to do what I ordered for the last few days, so I got irritated. When I told you to erect barricades, you immediately refused so I lost my temper but it was just an instant reaction.”
Executive Engineer Singore said, “You told me to erect barricades. How could have I manage it in the night?. It was impossible for any officers.”
Collector said, “Previously it used to be done so I was under the impression that you will also manage. Secondly, SP told me that how can an engineer refuse to execute my orders and his comment provoked me.”
When Singore said that SP had detained him in police station for hours, Collector said, “Not for hours. You met me for just half-an-hour and told that everything is ok.”
According to Singore, the Collector and SP had reached Chairi Mata temple on the occasion of Bhandara organised on Saptami in Navratri.
Seeing the swelling crowd, the Collector ordered Singore for putting in place barricades which the officer declined, saying that arranging barricades was not possible late in the night.
The matter heated up and Singore alleged that the collector slapped him and got him and his sub-engineer Sohanlal Gupta detained at police station. The police made them sit in the police station for two hours before releasing them.
The Collector has been denying slapping Singore but the latter stood his ground claiming time and again that he was slapped by the DM.
