38 NWKRTC staff suspended after transfer scam comes to light

Staff said to have used illegal means to get transfer to a place of their choice; police probe begins

An alleged transfer scam in North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has resulted in the suspension of 38 NWKRTC employees and a police complaint and counter complaint.

The scam pertains to NWKRTC staff allegedly using illegal means to get transfer to a place of their choice and forging the signature of the officer concerned to issue the transfer order.

As per a preliminary inquiry taken up by the Vigilance Wing of NWKRTC, in all, 148 employees were transferred through 55 orders reportedly with the forged signature of Chief Traffic Manager Shanthappa Gotakhandaki.

Mr. Gotakhandaki, who has alleged that his signature was forged, has already filed a complaint with Gokul Road Police Station accusing staff supervisor Kalpana Patil of forging his signature on the transfer orders.

However Ms. Patil has filed a counter complaint accusing Mr. Gotakhandaki of threatening her and getting a confession letter from her promising that she would not be suspended. She has alleged that she was suspended after she gave the confession letter. She has also written a letter in this regard to NWKRTC Managing Director. Mr. Gotakhandaki, who is set to retire in three months, has declined to make any comment on the development.

Managing Director of NWKRTC Rajendra Cholan has already suspended 38 staff of the transport corporation, including drivers, conductors and six office staff.

The Managing Director’s action follows a preliminary report based on the call records and messages of the personnel allegedly involved in the “transfer business”.

Sources have said that following a representation by local Janata Dal(S) leaders seeking transfer of about 40 drivers and conductors, Transport Minister D.C. Thammanna had directed the Chief Traffic Manager to transfer them.

However, the staff of the central office of NWKRTC had allegedly used the direction from the Minister to transfer several other employees apart from the 40 suggested.

Investigation

The Gokul Road Police have begun investigation of the case of complaint and counter complaint and have already questioned a few among the staff at the central office.

Meanwhile, questions are also being raised over the manner in which the transfer orders were implemented even in cases where the transferred employees were relieved from their duties though there was shortage of staff.