MYSORE: Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad on Saturday condemned the recent attack on Administrative Training Institute (ATI) director-general Rashmi V, and asked Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee not to forget who he works for.
Rashmi was attacked last Wednesday after she sent a report to the state government recommending a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Lokayukta into alleged irregularities at ATI. Subsequently, Mukherjee dismissed the accusation, saying the annual budget of ATI is less than the Rs 100 crore which Rashmi claims was misused.
But the minister said Mukherjee’s statement carries little weight and will not affect the investigation into the matter. “The chief secretary is not above the government. It is the government which will take a decision on the inquiry report. We will act tough on dishonest officers.”
Prasad said the government was committed to protecting its “honest officers” and will not heed to external pressure. He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George would look into Mukherjee’s statement as well.
Senior civil servant T M Vijay Bhaskar has been appointed to probe Rashmi’s allegations, while senior police officials have been asked to look into the alleged lapses by the police during the attack on Rashmi.
On Rashmi’s insistence on a probe by either the CBI or the Lokayukta, Prasad said this is currently “not before the government” and appealed for “faith in the state”.