'Minister Naik got forest official transferred, too'

 Labour Minister P T Parameshwar Naik is learnt to have also got a range forest officer transferred for cracking down on illegal sand mining in Kudligi taluk.

The minister has courted controversy for shunting out a woman deputy superintendent of police for not answering his telephone calls.

The principal chief conservator of forests, in his letter dated November 9, 2015, addressed to the additional secretary, forest, ecology and environment, has explained the circumstances which led to the transfer of Duddagi, a range forest officer at Gudekote, Kudligi taluk. He has also referred to a letter dated October 19, 2015, written by Duddagi to the deputy conservator of forests. The letter bears out the fact that sand and quarry mafia had put pressure on the police for registering a false atrocity case against Duddagi.

Deccan Herald has a copy of the letter in which the PCCF had sought job security for Duddagi. He has been serving in Kamalapura range since December 14.

Superintendent of Police R Chetan said that Anupama Shenoy, the DySP who was transferred at the behest of the minister, has gone on sick leave for 15 days from January 24.

Sonia seeks report

All India Congress Committee chairperson Sonia Gandhi is said to have sought a report from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the Naik’s transfer fiasco. It is also being said that the controversy may prove costly for the Congress in the upcoming elections to the taluk and zilla panchayat. Several organisations have called for a Kudligi bandh on Saturday to protest the minister’s conduct.