Senior IAS officer posted as Commissioner in Tribal Welfare department JN Malpani was on Friday removed from his post after his audio recording seeking bribe from his junior officer became viral on Whatsapp.
As soon as the recording came in the knowledge of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he examined the audio recording after summoning Principal Secretary of Tribal Welfare department BR Naidu and directed him to immediately remove the officer from field posting.
Besides, Chouhan also ordered a high-level inquiry to be conducted in the incident by senior IAS officer Radhe Shyam Julania.
The two-minute audio recording, probably recorded from the mobile phone of Assistant Commissioner RK Shroti posted in Badwani, Malpani was demanding from Shroti. Ironically, even Shroti was not denying it. He was heard saying that the funds have lapsed and no collection has come so far and thus he could not meet him during Diwali.
Within a few minutes, an order was issued from the office of Chief Secretary that Malpani has been shifted to the Secretariat as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) till the investigation is over. Senior IAS officer and MD in State Cooperative Dairy Federation ltd Shobhit Jain has been given additional charge of tribal welfare department, the order stated.
later, while talking to media persons, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government will take strict action against those who are involved in corruption or non-cooperative with the public.
Notably, the Whatsapp has become a major tool for the past few months, as corruption related audio clippings of around half a dozen government officials including IAS officials have gone viral in this social media.