The Election Commission has instructed the Regional Commissioner, Mysuru Division, to inquire into the allegations by Minister for Sericulture and Animal Husbandry A. Manju that Hassan Deputy Commissioner Rohini Sindhuri Dasari had made “derogatory, defamatory, and false” statements against him.
The Minister had written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on April 7 seeking Ms. Dasari’s transfer. This was after the district administration filed a case against him for alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
“We will take action after we get the RO’s report,” said Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar, speaking in Bengaluru.
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The Hassan city police have registered a case against Mr. Manju, following a complaint from election officer B. Rajesh over the Minister’s office continuing to function on the Inspection Bungalow premises in Hassan.
Mr. Manju, in his letter, said the model code of conduct did not prevent him from discharging day-to-day official work at his office. However, officers locked up the office without prior intimation, he said. “I am aggrieved by the officers’ action with mala fide intentions against me,” he said.
He alleged that Ms. Dasari instructed the election officer to file a criminal case against him by concealing the facts. “It is clear that the actions of Ms. Dasari are vindictive,” he said, and added, “she has neither verified the genuineness of TV reports nor has she considered the report filed by the Public Works Department (PWD). Moreover, she has released a statement against me before the press, which has had an impact on my political image.” The district administration had served notices to the Minister and a PWD officer after TV reports that the Minister’s personal staff were functioning from his office even after the elections were declared.
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The PWD, in its response to the notice, maintained that the office was taken over soon after the elections were declared.
The Minister alleged that the Deputy Commissioner was determined to tarnish his image by colluding with the Opposition and misusing her office. He urged the Election Commission to transfer the officer to ensure free and fair polls. The letter, however, has no reference to the second notice served to the Minister with regard to the grant of bagair hukum land, allegedly in violation of the model code of conduct. The notice was served on April 7. However, the Minister received it only on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Shivayogi C. Kalasad, Regional Commissioner of Mysuru Division, visited Hassan, and took statements of officers, including Ms. Dasari, in connection with the case.
Sindhuri’s reply
In her reply to the Regional Commissioner, Ms. Dasari said the allegations levelled by Mr. Manju were false and unfounded.
The officer said the Minister in his reply to the notice had admitted to the violation by claiming that he had the right to continue to use the office. “The said reply by Mr. Manju amounts to an unequivocal admission to the allegations,” she said.
Ms. Dasari also made it clear that the case was registered against the Minister only after verifying all the material available. Referring to another complaint against the Minister with regard to granting government land to 1,093 families, she said, “It is regrettable the Minister seems to have scant regard for the model code of conduct and law.”
She said, “The Minister was prima facie involved in multiple violations of the model code of conduct and law”, and added that his allegations were false, unfounded and were aimed at demoralising the election machinery from discharging its statutory duties.
Action sought two engineers
Meanwhile, sources in the Deputy Commissioner’s office said Ms. Dasari has written to the Chief Electoral Officer recommending the suspension of Assistant Executive Engineer C.D. Gurulingappa and transfer of Executive Engineer N. Nagaraj of the Public Works Department from the district.
Ms. Dasari, on Monday, recommended action against the officers finding fault with their response to the notice served to them on March 31.