The ‘tainted’ Town Planning Member (TPM) in Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Tirakana Goudar, is likely to be reinstated in his post, while he is still out on bail
Goudar will be the second official who will be taking charge of his office, following his release on bail after spending more than 48 hours in police custody. The reinstatement of ‘tainted’ Special Land Acquisition Officer M R Hiremath in similar circumstances and suspension later had led to a controversy.
The Karnataka Civil Service Rules clearly state that any officer who has spent 48 hours in jail is deemed suspended, till the time the charges against him are proven otherwise.
The TPM was charged with favouring building firm Delhi Land and Finance (DLF) by approving the widening of the Hulimavu-Begur Road, in order to legalise the construction put up by DLF Southern Homes beyond the permissible limit.
In November this year, Goudar was questioned by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) with regard to the alleged undue favouritism shown towards DLF. The BMTF arrested the TPM and placed him in police custody for two days. He was later released on bail.
While BDA Commissioner T Sham Bhatt was unavailable for comments, other senior officials were unaware of any order having been issued by the State government for his reinstatement. However, sources in the BDA said the reinstatement of Goudar was based on the directives from the office of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.
Principal Secretary to the chief minister, Pradeep Singh Kharola, said he was yet to verify whether an order reinstating Goudar existed.
“We have to verify whether the order was, in fact, issued from the chief minister’s office,” he said. The chief minister is also the minister for BDA.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Goudar said: “I do not know if any order has been passed reinstating me. If the State government has issued any such directions, then ask them.”