Cong demands probe into allegations against IAS officer

The Congress in Kerala on Thursday demanded a probe into an allegation that a senior IAS officer had been removed from a key post following complaints of inappropriate behaviour by some women officers. Kerala pradesh congress committee secretary JythothiKumar Chamakala told reporters here that it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister's office is yet to enquire about the allegations against the 1992 batch officer Biswanath Sinha.

"What action has chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan taken against the IAS officer?" he asked. He also said the chief minister's office and chief secretary's office have said they had not received any complaints from any woman officer.

In the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, Sinha, who was the general administration secretary, was shunted as the secretary of printing and stationery and sainik welfare departments. Asked about the allegations, Vijayan told reporters that normally if his office gets a complaint, action is taken immediately.

When asked if a formal complaint had been filed, the chief minister said "Let me see...I can say only after verifying," he said. Vijayan said it was a fact that the officer has been transferred.

According to reports in a section of the media, at least five women IAS officers, including two trainee officers, had complained against Sinha. A woman officer had also complained in a WhatsApp group of the IAS officers that the official had called her up from different numbers at late hours seeking some details on official matters.

He is also alleged to have misbehaved with two women trainee IAS officers at a dinner hosted during the visit of the Dutch King to the state recently. Sinha has, however, rubbished the allegations against him.

"I have never done anything inappropriate. The allegations are unsubstantiated," he told a television channel..

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)