Shimla, May 31: Tilak Raj Sharma, Joint Director, Industries, who was arrested in a case of illegal gratification by the CBI at Chandigarh last evening, was unceremoniously transferred in February this year to the head office following news of his proximity with the BJP and the post of Joint Director was also done away with from the Baddi office of the Industries Department.
The officer, however, did not join at Shimla and his post was restored and his transfer was cancelled after more than two-and-a-half months. The officer, who was transferred in lieu from Una, did not show any inclination to join at Baddi and the post remained vacant for this duration. This was despite the fact that the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area is the key investor zone where absence of an officer heading the Industries Department did not send any positive message to the investors.
Irrespective of the party in power, Sharma always served in the key industrial areas like Baddi, Una and Kala Amb. The major time of his term was spent at Baddi ever since the state received the industrial package in 2004.
It was interesting to note that the Single Window Clearance Agency’s office at Baddi was ugraded from the post of a Member Secretary to Deputy Director and later to Joint Director along with his promotion and this ensured that he stayed put in Baddi even after being promoted.
He was also handling the Investment Promotion Cell which was constituted about two years ago to attract investment though no major industry made its advent in the state. The officer was also part of the several official delegations which visited foreign countries for investment promotion and they were much talked about in the official circles.
Director Industries, Rajesh Sharma, said they were awaiting the receipt of official communication from the CBI pertaining to his arrest and this would pave way for further action against the officer.
Leader of the Opposition, PK Dhumal and state BJP president Satpal Satti, while reacting to this news, said a state where even the head was facing charges of corruption spoke volumes about the poor state of governance in the state.
BJP leaders said the government had lost the moral authority to remain in power as allegations of the involvement of the CM’s office have been raised by the Joint Director Tilak Raj Sharma. They said taking money in lieu of releasing subsidies was reflective of the prevailing Congress culture and the concerned investor had time and again been complaining of being exploited by the officials.
Source Tribune India
