MANGALURU: Amidst reports linking IAS officer Anurag Tewari's mysterious death to the alleged corruption in the state food and civil supplies department, of which he was the commissioner, food and civil supplies minister U T Khader said that the state government in no way is connected to the officer's death.
"Tewari was with the food and civil supplies departmemnt for just 132 days and he worked for just 38 days. After being posted in the department on January 4, he was sent on election duty to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh from January 18 as an observer. Few days after his return to duty, he again went to a month's training till May 8. Yes, he had sought extension of leave and his request was sent to the government for approval. We cooperated fully with his official works and on his part, he was also working well," Khader said, adding that the state government is in no way connected to his death.
"There are reports that the officer was about to expose a scam worth Rs 2,000 crore. During his tenure in the department, he never told me about it nor he discussed it with his colleagues. However, I have sought details from secretary of the department. The secretary also has said that Tewari never informed him about any scam in the department in writing or orally," Khader said.
On the decision of the Uttar Pradesh government to set up a special investigation team (SIT), Khader said that the state government too wants the case to be investigated fairly.
"We will extend all our support for the investigation. It is left for the UP government to find the cause for Tewari's death. Meanwhile, some opposition leaders from BJP have made allegations (against the state government), but we are not taking them seriously because the investigation is on. Some leaders are experts in politicizing the deaths too. We have witnessed similar incidents in Karnataka on earlier occasions," Khader said.
Talking over the state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa's demand for a CBI inquiry into Tewari's death, Khader said the state would welcome the decision if the UP government orders for a CBI probe. "The BJP is ruling UP and at the centre too. Let them hand over the case to CBI. We will welcome it. What documents they have to prove allegations against Karnataka?", he questioned.
On the transfer of IAS officer Harsha Gupta from the department, Khader said it is a routine thing that top officers get transferred after one or more years of service. Harsha Gupta has been promoted as the regional commissioner of Gulbarga and he is still holding the additional charge of the secretary in the department of food and civil supplies, he said.
To a query, Khader said that the government will consider ordering a departmental inquiry to find whether Tewari was under pressure in the department if such option is there in the law.