In a surprise move the State Government transferred Principal Secretary in Chief Minister's Office Rakesh Bahadur and Principal Secretary Industries Sanjiv Saran and put them on waiting list. A senior official told The Pioneer that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered removal of both the officials after reports of irregularities were brought to his notice. Both of them have been put on waiting list. No new appointment has been made so far, he said.
Incidentally, Rakesh Bahadur was a hand-picked man of Chief Minister and was appointed after Rakesh Garg went on deputation to New Delhi. "I fact, Rakesh bahadur was eye and ear of Akhilesh Yadav. His removal has come as a big surprise," a senior official told The Pioneer.
He said probably differences cropped up in Chief Minister's secretariat between two senior officers - one of them considered close to Mulayam Singh Yadav - led to shunting of Rakesh Bahadur out of CM's secretariat. Government axe also fell on Sanjiv Saran, who was given responsibility to invite private investments in the state. Saran is also heading the NRI Cell, whose meeting is expected on Agra from February 28.
Sources said that Saran's proximity with builders of Noida had irked Chief Minister. They said that of late he had taken some decisions which had helped builders in Noida - which is against the principles of the state government. Saran was on notice as earlier he was transferred out of Industries department and sent to Board of Revenue. CM brought him back after he clarified his position.