Returning officer violates poll code, liquor ban

The Tahsildar and Returning Officer of Khanapur Taluk, S.Y. Kalarkop, a Grade-I officer, Grade-II Tahsildar M.N. Baligar and a few of their staff members allegedly enjoyed a liquor party at the government guest house in Khanapur taluk on the eve of polling on Friday. This amounts to violation of the liquor ban and the model code of conduct in place for the elections to the local bodies. Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram, who took serious note of the incident, has written to the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, to initiate disciplinary action and suspend them on the basis of a report confirming the violations. According to official sources, the accused officials had organised a liquor party on Friday night. After the news reached the district headquarters, Nodal Officer, Geeta Kavalgi and two other officials, rushed to the spot and inspected the room where the party was held. On finding only the two tahsildars and a few liquor bottles inside the room, the two tahsildars were taken to the government hospital for medical examination. Upon oral examination, the doctors confirmed that the duo had consumed alcohol. The two tahsildars did not allow the staff to collect blood samples. But, the doctors were convinced that the officials had consumed liquor after the oral examination.

According to sources, the officials had organised a liquor party on Friday