From health to excise: CMO calls viral transfer note fake, orders probe

Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah's office said a letter circulated by BJP functionaries claiming the transfer of a Mandya district health officer to the excise department was fake and had no official validity. It has ordered a police investigation into the issue. Opposition leader R Ashoka and senior BJP MLAs S Suresh Kumar and Sunil Kumar had posted the alleged letter on social media and accused the Siddaramaiah govt of irregular transfers. In his post, Sunil Kumar said Siddaramaiah had "personally ordered" Dr K Mohan, Mandya district health and family welfare officer, to be transferred as deputy commissioner of excise, Mysuru rural district. Sunil Kumar alleged the move violated cadre rules.
In a statement, the CMO said the note on Dr Mohan, circulating on social media, carried no official reference number or date and was not registered in the CMO's e-office system. The note was not forwarded to any department, and no transfer or posting order was issued. Arun Purtado, joint secretary (administration), has directed Vidhana Soudha police to investigate the issue and take legal action. Earlier, sharing the purported order on X, Ashoka questioned appointing a medical professional to the revenue-focused excise department amid doctor shortages and alleged Dr Mohan's links to agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy. Calling it a "transfer racket", he alleged the practice of commissions and bribes was rampant in the excise department and said pending recruitment in the health department was affecting patient care. Ashoka said: "In Parliament, Rahul Gandhi delivers performance daily by waving certain files, sweeping and wild allegations and declaring that the nation has been sold. But when the questions are about Karnataka, the performance stops," Ashoka alleged.BJP has been accusing the govt of a "Rs 5,000–6,000 crore excise scam" and has sought the resignation of excise minister RB Timmapur. It has also released purported audio clips allegedly linked to the case and filed a complaint with the Lokayukta.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and gift idea !