On July 3, 2016, he was even transferred from Kolhapur to Nasik. Sabale, however, had died in a road accident in Kolhapur back in 2013.
The Opposition demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action over chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's decision to transfer and promote a dead excise department officer.
dna had reported on Tuesday that as per the Maharashtra government record, police sub-inspector of the state excise department – Sandesh Sabale – was alive, still working with the government and drawing a salary as well.
On July 3, 2016, he was even transferred from Kolhapur to Nasik. Sabale, however, had died in a road accident in Kolhapur back in 2013.
Former Congress chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said it was shocking that a person who had died three years ago was still alive on government records. "This is the matter of serious concern. It shows that the chief minister has no control over the administration. He only signed the letter of this deceased excise officer. The inquiry committee needs to find out who was the drawing Sabale's salary in his absence," Chavan told dna.
Another Congress leader, Narayan Rane, raised this dna report concerned in the Upper House on Tuesday. Referring to the deceased Sabale, Rane said, "Indrachya sangitilala gelela vyakti, devendrachya sangtit kadi gela (a person who had reached heaven was transferred by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis). Fadnavis and his entire office is responsible for this act. This is not a solitary case. In the recent transfer and promotion of 220 officers, a big transaction took place," Rane alleged.
He said as per government rules, only 30% of officers can be transferred each year. "But in the transit period, Fadnavis transferred all 180 police sub-inspectors whose transfers were due. Besides, there are more than a dozen excise officers against whom corruption cases have been filed. Some of them are even facing molestation and rape charges. Rather than being punished, these corrupt and tainted officers were given plump posts," Rane alleged.
He also said that more than 100 people died in the Malvani hooch tragedy. "Former excise minister Eknath Khadse had asked excise principal secretary Rajesh Kumar Meena to investigate superintendent Suresh Bodake, who was responsible for this tragedy. It has been almost a year but there is no inquiry or report. Bodake's transfer was due but Meena extended his stint for a year with the CM's approval," Rane said.
Talking with the media, Meena said all transfers during the transit period were done after following the due process. "We have done the transfers and promotions in the excise department as per approval of the chief minister, who was in-charge of the excise ministry during the transit period," he added.
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