AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government on Friday ordered a departmental inquiry against Manoj Aggarwal, a 1990 batch IAS of Gujarat cadre, for alleged irregularities in land allotment. The government also ordered an advisory to be issued to Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Agrawal to be more careful while dealing with policy matters.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered the action against the two officials based on a report submitted by former Chief Secretary Dr. Manjula Subramaniam. She was asked to undertake a preliminary probe in October 2016 against the two officials during Arvind Agrawal’s stint as Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Mines) and Manoj Aggarwal’s as Managing Director of the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC).
Mr. Rupani had received complaints against both officials of irregularities worth ₹300 crore in two land allotment deals of the GIDC. The deals pertained to land allotment to M/s NSP Infrastructure Limited at Ichhapore in Surat and transfer of land to MRF Ltd from Hydrocarbon and Power Ltd at Vilayat Industrial Estate in Bharuch.
“As part of his emphasis on clean and transparent administration, Chief Minister Rupani ordered action against two officials,” a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office said.
At present, Arvind Agrawal is Additional Chief Secretary (Environment and Forest) while Manoj Aggarwal is Development Commissioner in the State Panchayat Department.
