Gujarat govt launches probe against whistleblower officer

GANDHINAGAR:

Gujarat

chief minister Vijay Rupani has initiated an inquiry against a tribal

whistleblower

officer who exposed corruption in the Pavitra Yatradham Board in development work of religious places like

Dwarka

, Somnath, Shamlaji etc.

In an audio clip that went viral, Anil Patel, at present Additional Secretary in the Rural Development department, is heard talking to an RTI activist about rampant corruption in the development of religious places. Patel accepted the genuinity of the clip and said that he had raised the issue in writing with the government also but no one responded. After Patel’s open allegation against the state government, CM Rupani ordered formal action against the officer.

Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister said, "As per the service conduct rules, no officer can openly make any allegation on the government like this. The officer himself has started making such allegation after being removed from the post."

When contacted, Anil Patel said, "I have given all the records about poor quality of work done at Dwarka and other religious places to the government. Some officials who tried to silence me are defaming me. In the past also while I was in irrigation, fisheries and other departments, I acted as the whistleblower. Government framed probes against me to stop my promotion but I was exonerated. I also sought permission of defamation against those corrupt authorities but government did not allowed. I will prove my allegations of corruption in the Pavitra Yatradham board also in court if required."