JAIPUR: In a major administrative reshuffle in Rajasthan, the Bhajan Lal government has transferred 62 IAS officers late on Sunday night. The transfer list issued by the Personnel Department contains the names of many IAS officers who were stuck in the same post for years, including some who had been given responsibility in that department during the Gehlot government. In the list, 21 IAS officers have been given additional charge, while collectors and magistrates of many districts have also been changed.
The most shocking name in this long-awaited transfer list is that of Hanuman Mal Dhaka, an IAS officer who last year, was accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh in a land conversion case. The ACB had arrested him but now Dhaka, who was removed on bribery charges, has been given a new responsibility. The Bhajan government had APO-ed him in the bribery case, but the Personnel Department has now posted him as Director, Departmental Investigation.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had registered a case against the then District Collector of Dudu Hanuman Mal Dhaka, and Halka Patwari Hansraj for demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh in exchange for land conversion. The ACB had raided the Dak Bungalow in Dudu and the Tehsil office. However, the bribe amount was not taken after they realised that the ACB had caught on. But the ACB verification made it clear that Hanuman Mal and the Patwari had demanded the bribe.
According to the complainant in that case, out of 204 bigha land in the name of his firm in Dudu, some Khasras were in the pond/pal area. A complaint for the conversion of these Khasra was lodged with the District Collector. In lieu of not taking action on the said complaint, the then Collector Dhaka and Halka Patwari were harassing the complainant by demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. Later, both of them settled the deal for Rs 21 lakh.
In the verification by ACB, it was revealed that when the amount of Rs 21 lakh was too high, the complainant talked to the District Collector and Halka Patwari, then they fixed the deal for Rs 15 lakh, and the District Collector called for Rs 7.50 lakh at his dak bungalow. Later, from the verification of ACB, it was clear that the Collector and Patwari were demanding bribes. Though a case was registered against them and an investigation was conducted, it seems that Dhaka has now gotten away scot free.
Among other notable transfers, IAS officer Anand Kumar, who was posted in the Home Department during the Gehlot government, has been made ACS Forest. Similarly, IAS Akhil Arora, who was in the Finance Department for 5 years, has been transferred and made ACS in the Water Supply Department.