Senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, has opposed the state government’s decision to purchase Innova and other luxury cars for senior administrative officers.
In his letter dispatched to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Thursday afternoon, Thakur, posted as IG (Civil Defense) in lucknow claimed that the government had sanctioned permission to Commissioners, district magistrate, district police chief, zonal inspector general of police, range deputy inspector general of police, etc to purchase Innova costing Rs 14 lakh and above, besides permission to buy a cars for Rs 8.50 lakh, instead of previous Rs 7 lakh limit. He showed his surprise and claimed that on one hand the Government claimed the shortage of public exchequer for development and public interest activities and on the other hand, allowing the officers to purchase luxury vehicles.
Thakur said that the ground clearance of Innova is very low and it is a complete misfit for rural areas. Secondly it has service centers at very few places which will make its servicing very difficult. He said it is a luxury vehicle and would give wrong signal about these officers being self-centered. Thakur said very good cars are available at Rs 07 lakh rupees, hence instead of wasting public money on such luxury cars, the money shall be better utilized for larger public goals. He requested the chief minister to intervene and check misuse of public money.