An IAS officer in Madhya Pradesh has been sent a show cause notice by the government following his corruption allegations against the state’s bureaucrats on a private social media group of IAS officers, which got leaked. Lokesh Jangid sought three years’ deputation to home state Maharashtra citing personal reasons. But in the leaked posts, he indicated that he was being repeatedly transferred because of his inability to tolerate corruption. In four-and-half years, he claimed he was transferred nine times.
The state government issued showcause notice to the officer for “indiscipline” and sought reply within a week. Confirming the notice, cabinet minister Vishvas Sarang said transfers and postings are routine administrative procedure.
“The same officer was transferred even during the Congress regime, so how has he become so dear to the Congress now? No officer is bigger than the system. Every officer has to abide by civil services conduct rules, which have been violated by the concerned officer,” the minister said.
The opposition Congress has attacked the BJP government, claiming that Mr Jangid was transferred from Barwani over exposing corruption in purchase of medical equipment during the Covid pandemic. State Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said the Chief Minister and the ministers and bureaucrats responsible come clean.
On Monday Jangid posted: “Interestingly, while those who mint money from all kinds of mafia, get transfer from field to field. And those with Impeccable Integrity get thrown to secretariat on transfer… Stability of tenure in Madhya Pradesh and the joke of an institution called Civil Services Board… I will come out with a book post-retirement and hopefully bring the facts before everyone to see. Right now, my hands are tied by conduct rules.”
In another of his posts, he alleges he was removed as SDM from a district because he called the collector ‘weak’.
MPIASOA president ICP Keshari objects to his posts and writes: “Lokesh, it’s not a question of fear or absence of that. You have lost basic decency – not only accusing your colleagues but also the family. Please delete all yours posts soon. That’s my sincere advice and desist from such things in future.”
Jangid refuses, and writes: “I will not delete. You may remove me from the group. I know you are president of association and have all powers to remove me. Good luck-…waise bhi dissent to kuchla ja raha hai nizam mein. Aap bhi kuchal do.” He was then removed from the group by MPIASOA secretary Vishesh Garhpale.
In the last four and a half years, Jangid has been SDMShahdol, deputy secretary-urban development, CEO-zilla panchayat in Harda, additional collector-Guna, additional managing director Rajya Siksha Kendra, additional collector-Barwani and is back at Rajya Siksha Kendra.
