Senior IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre Amit Khare was today appointed Secretary to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Khare, a 1985 batch IAS officer, is at present serving as Development Commissioner of the State. He will take over the charge from incumbent NK Sinha who superannuates on May 31.
One of the most upright and honest officers of the State cadre, Khare is credited with unearthing the infamous fodder scam involving former Bihar Chief Ministers lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra way back in 1996 when he was Deputy Commissioner of Chaibasa district.
National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval had applauded Khare after the CBI court convicted lalu Prasad and others on December 23 last year in one of the fodder scam cases, saying, "We always hear a story of corrupt officer who licks politicians' boot. Know about Amit Khare, IAS, who revealed lalu's fodder scam. Great man, India salutes an officer like you. Kudos"
The Additional Chief Secretary rank officer, who always believed calling a spade a spade was said to have brought back from the Central deputation for a 'crucial role' by the State Government when the NDA Government took shape in Jharkhand.
He was also one of the top contenders for the post of Chief Secretary of the State after the superannuation of former CS Rajbala Verma.
However, the Government chose his batch mate Sudhir Tripathy for the top post in the State.
Before coming back to his parent cadre from the Centre, Khare had served in the Union HRD Ministry.
Earlier, he had served as District Magistrate in Patna and Darbhanga.
He has also served as IPRD Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Planning Department of Jharkhand.