M Muniraju, assistant director, women and child development department, who was arrested by Lokayukta officials, has been promoted and transferred.
M Muniraju, assistant director, women and child development department, who was arrested by Lokayukta officials for his involvement in the Rs600-crore scam, has been promoted and transferred to Ramanagaram district. Another tainted official, joint director Usha Patwari, has been promoted as general manager in the same department. There is no mention of pending cases against these officials, which is mandatory according to the service rules.
Women and child development department undersecretary B Kamalamma has issued a notification stating that the tainted officials have been promoted and transferred. The duo was involved in the Rs600-crore scam, which was unearthed by the Lokayukta. Muniraju was arrested under Section 201 of IPC for destroying evidence. The department should have suspended them, said Lokayukta officials. Not mentioning the pending case against the officials shows the department’s callousness, added officials.
The state service rules state that an arrested government official must be suspended within 48 hours, said a Lokayukta official. Muniraju was arrested four days ago, but he has not been suspended.
“We have informed the director of women and child welfare department about his arrest, but in vain,” said the official. However, women and child development department undersecretary Ramesh Jhalki clarified that the duo has been transferred, but not promoted. He said after the Lokayukta files a detailed report, the department will take action against Muniraju.
Rs600-cr scam
The integrated child development service — sponsored by the Centre and state — releases Rs600 crore every year to provide nutritional supplements to women and children. Lokayukta investigations said senior officials, including former director Shamla Iqbal, Patwari and Muniraju, have misappropriated funds along with Cristy Fried Gram Industries (CFI), which bagged the contract to supply the supplements.
Lokayukta officials said this is one of their biggest raids so far.
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