Madhya Pradesh officer issued notice over contaminated water served to CM Yadav

Officials from the chief minister’s office complained of a pungent smell in the water, which was later tested by the CMO

Published on: Jun 20, 2026, 19:54:16 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Bhopal

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A show cause notice has been served on Saturday to Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district excise officer after contaminated drinking water was allegedly supplied to chief minister Mohan Yadav and other VIP guests during his April 30 visit.

The notice, issued on May 18 by Ujjain divisional commissioner Asheesh Singh, came to light on Friday. (Representative photo/iStock)

Officials from the CM’s office complained of a pungent smell in the water, which was later tested by the CMO. The State Research Laboratory, Bhopal, report found turbidity levels seven times higher than the permissible limit.

The notice, issued on May 18 by Ujjain divisional commissioner Asheesh Singh, came to light on Friday. The officer, responsible for food and water arrangements at Semli Dham Ashram, Polaykalan, was asked to explain the lapses.

The commissioner’s letter said, “Deficiencies were found in the arrangements made by you for drinking water and food for the Mayor and VIPs at the helipad. The drinking water provided was of poor quality and unfit for consumption, regarding which an objection was also raised by the Bhopal office. After testing, high turbidity was found in the water.”

The letter further said that the act amounted to gross negligence and misconduct under Rule-3 of the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965, and warned of disciplinary proceedings under the Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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