Adarsh-tainted Phatak, Vyas and 6 Other IAS Officers Transferred

Maharashtra Government has effected transfer of eight IAS officers, including recently-reinstated bureaucrats Jairaj Phatak and Pradeep Vyas, allegedly involved in the Adarsh Housing scam.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Government has effected transfer of eight IAS officers, including recently-reinstated bureaucrats Jairaj Phatak and Pradeep Vyas, allegedly involved in the Adarsh Housing scam.

Phatak, a 1978 batch IAS officer, has been posted as Managing Director of Maharashtra Petrochemicals Corporation LTD, Mumbai, while Pradeep Vyas, a 1989-batch bureaucrat has been posted as member secretary of Rest of Maharashtra Statutory Development Board.

A fortnight ago, the state government had reinstated these two senior bureaucrats, who had been suspended two years ago (on March 22, 2012) for their alleged role in the Adarsh housing scam.

According to a Government Resolution (GR), a government employee cannot be suspended for more than two years. However, the criminal proceedings and departmental inquiries will continue against the two officers.

While the CBI found that Phatak's son Kanishk had a flat in the posh South Mumbai society, Vyas's wife Seema, herself an IAS officer, had a flat in her name. The two were jailed for more than two months.

Phatak was a member secretary of a statutory board before his suspension, while Vyas was Finance Secretary. A show-cause notice has been served on both of them on May 19. The case in High Court pertains to whether the CBI has jurisdiction in the matter.

Phatak, a former Mumbai municipal commissioner, was responsible for clearing an additional floor for the Adarsh building without the requisite sanctions, while Vyas was the Collector of Mumbai when the land was allotted to the controversial Adarsh Society in 2003. The two were also indicted by a Judicial Commission headed by Justice J A Patil.

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