Singh removed, Sahni new CS

AS A sequel to the ICD affidavit goof-up, an angry Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today shifted Chief Secretary Vijay Singh and appointed 1972 batch officer Rakesh Sahni as the new administrative head of the State. Sahni will continue as Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board chairman.

AS A sequel to the ICD affidavit goof-up, an angry Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today shifted Chief Secretary Vijay Singh and appointed 1972 batch officer Rakesh Sahni as the new administrative head of the State. Sahni will continue as Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board chairman.

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Vijay Singh’s removal looked imminent soon after the Chief Minister promised stern action against those who kept him in the dark about the affidavit in the High Court, giving clean chit to IAS officer S R Mohanty in the ICD scam. On Friday, he had shunted PS, General Administration Department (GAD), Abha Asthana and deputy secretary Subhash Daphane.

Vijay Singh’s removal today sent shockwaves across the bureaucracy, particularly among those considered close to the Chief Secretary.

Chouhan had already indicated his annoyance with the Chief Secretary by not taking him in the divisional review meeting at Sagar on Friday.

Rakesh Sahni started career as assistant collector, Rewa, and held various posts in the State including Collector Shahdol, MD, MP Dairy Federation Cooperative; Secretary Home; Commissioner, Gwalior; Secretary, Housing & Environment; Principal

Secretary, Tribal & Scheduled Caste Welfare; Principal Secretary, Home; and Principal Secretary Energy & Chairman, MPSEB. He was promoted to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary on January 17 and within two weeks became the Chief Secretary of the State.