Departmental probe likely against Adarsh babus

The state government is likely to initiate in-house disciplinary action through a departmental inquiry against 21 officials under the scanner in the Adarsh housing society scam. These include 12 serving and retired bureaucrats. If found guilty, officials will face either censure, a promotion withheld, a demotion or dismissal.

The state government is likely to initiate in-house disciplinary action through a departmental inquiry against 21 officials under the scanner in the Adarsh housing society scam. These include 12 serving and retired bureaucrats. If found guilty, officials will face either censure, a promotion withheld, a demotion or dismissal.

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The state is also likely to initiate proceedings to sack state information commissioner Ramanand Tiwari if he fails to tender his resignation to the governor in a day or two.

Sources said Tiwari, a former bureaucrat, whose son Omkar has a flat in the controversial tower, was unwilling to resign.

On Tuesday, he proceeded on long leave from his office.

“The government is likely to initiate proceedings with the governor against Tiwari if he fails to resign by Wednesday,” a senior official said. The letter to be sent to the governor is already ready, sources added.

The departmental inquiry for the rest of the officers will run parallel to the CBI and the judicial probe announced by the state government.

“The chief minister is likely to decide on the inquiry soon. He had asked the former chief secretary to put up a file, which has been done. The change of guard may delay the decision by a few days,” said a bureaucrat, on condition of anonymity.

The inquiry is to ascertain the truth against allegations made of misconduct, negligence of duty, lack of integrity. The officials need not be suspended until the inquiry is complete, but they are usually kept away from important postings.

For retired officials, the inquiry will lead to a halt in dues like pension, gratuity until the process is completed. There is no specific time limit for a departmental inquiry and the criticism made against it is that the delay subverts natural justice.

For serving officials, the inquiry can lead to negative annual confidential reports besides putting a permanent taint on an official even if he/she is exonerated later.

Officials under the scanner include former civic commissioner Jairaj Phatak, former Mumbai collectors Pradeep Vyas and IA Kundan, former BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade, IFS officer RK Das and retired bureaucrat CS Sangitrao.