Lokayukta asked me to withdraw complaint, says KAS officer

After submitting a memorandum to the chief secretary alleging harassment by senior officials, KAS officer K Mathai on Saturday said that Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty asked him to withdraw his complaint against senior IAS officers.

Mathai, who is serving as an administrative officer in the Sakala Mission, had filed a complaint in May 2017 with the Lokayukta against senior IAS officers, attached to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) alleging maladministration. Mathai said he received a notice from the Lokayukta office to appear for an enquiry on October 23.

"I was the only person who was given a notice to appear for the enquiry on that day. Later, the Lokayukta started persuading me to withdraw my complaint. He also said if I was interested, I could withdraw my complaint. When I said there was no question of withdrawing my complaint, he said he would be left with no other option but to close my complaint,'' Mathai said.

Mathai said the institution of Lokayukta did not take the statements of the officers. "Instead of issuing notices to those officials, the Lokayukta sent a notice only to me. I am not saying he should have passed an order in my favour. But he should hold an enquiry and take the statements of the officials named in my complaint,'' Mathai said.

Lokayukta Justice Shetty said his order on the complaint was in "black and white". "My order is in writing. I was not the only person in the chamber when this happened. The report of the enquiry officer was to close the complaint. It was a suggestion to him because if he withdraws, alternative remedies will be open,'' Justice Shetty said.

During his tenure as assistant commissioner (advertisement) in BBMP, Mathai had unearthed the revenue loss due to non-collection of advertisement tax to the extent of Rs 2,000 crore.

Similarly, his exposure of revenue loss to the tune of Rs 300 crore to Mandya Urban Development Authority in 2014, resulted in the state government ordering a CBI investigation. Mathai stated in the complaint that despite all these achievements, he was issued 27 transfer orders in the past nine years. And, his "waiting period salary" was not paid for the past two years.