Mamata government reinstates IAS officer Godala who was shunted out over graft charges

Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government reinstated IAS officer Godala Kiran Kumar as the Joint Secretary of the Statistics department on Wednesday after he was sent on compulsory waiting on graft charges.

The 2005-batch Bengal cadre IAS officer was arrested in November 2013 after eight FIRs were registered against him in connection with the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) scam worth over Rs.100 crore.

Soon after his arrest, he was sent on compulsory waiting. The IPS officer, Jayaraman, then Commissioner of Police (Siliguri Commissionerate) who had arrested Kumar was immediately sent on compulsory waiting for six months as a part of a punishment posting.

The then Chief Secretary, Sanjay Mitra had addressed the press and said that the police officer had "exceeded his brief" and that the arrest of Kumar was not required.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government has been reinstating officers immediately after coming to power. Even before Banerjee was to take oath as the Chief Minister, she reinstated Rajeev Kumar as Kolkata Police chief, who was shunted out by the poll panel on charges of bias towards the ruling party.

The poll panel-appointed Kolkata Police chief, Soumen Mitra, was transferred to an insignificant position of ADG and IG, Training. Mitra’s role during the polls was highly appreciated by political parties and the poll panel.

Later, the Chief Minister also transferred several other IPS officers from Kolkata Police, who performed their duty well and sent them all on compulsory waiting.