An LED TV and a refrigerator have gone missing from the heritage commissioner’s office in Mysore. The value of the two, put-together, is Rs 1 lakh, hardly worth the brouhaha of a search, when typical government scams run into multiple crores.
But the person accused of the scam is former Mysore deputy commissioner P S Vastrad, who once tried to light part of the Mysore Palace through bicycles. He was transferred a few months ago, over a controversial order to delimit 2,000 acres of government land at bottom of the Chamundi Hills, allegedly to benefit land sharks.
Vastrad is presently the heritage commissioner. After he took charge as Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, with the head office on the premises of Karnataka Exhibition Authority in Mysore, he placed orders for some equipment. Express, acting on a tip-off from one of his subordinates in the office, got information via RTI that he purchased an LED TV, a refrigerator, two laptops and two HP printers which have print, scan and fax facilities, for the office, on March 14.
“We have seen neither the TV nor the refrigerator in this office,” the subordinate told Express.
Further, Vastrad has no authorisation to purchase a TV or a refrigerator for the office. C Shama Rao, Deputy Secretary (finance rules, budget coordination and communication), Department of Finance, told Express: “The powers delegated to the head of the department to purchase things necessary for the office like computer and peripherals and equipments is up to Rs 10 lakh a year. Recently it also allowed them to purchase laptops by amending it. But there is no necessity of LED television or a refrigerator for the office. If a necessity arises, the concerned head must establish that the things are necessary. In Vastard’s case, it is clearly a misuse of power.”
The RTI officer of the Heritage Department disclosed that two laptops and two HP Printers were purchased from the shops approved under e-administration. The TV and the refrigerator were bought at a competitive price from regular shops.
As per the copies of bills available, the rate of LED television (Sony 4-Nx650) is Rs 72,900 and LG Refrigerator (254AAG4) is Rs 18,500.
Kannada and Culture secretary Basavaraju told Express: “The purchase of laptops and computers might be perfectly alright, but those of a TV and refrigerator may not be appropriate. I will issue a notice to Vastrad and act on this matter, once I receive a reply.”
Express tried to contact Vastrad to seek an explanation for where the TV and the refrigerator went. His subordinates said that the two pieces of equipment are there at Vastrad’s house, Vontikoppal. Vastrad said he would explain the matter at a later date.
