CMO doesn't want tainted officer as his OSD but Shivaprakash is confident that this mentor will see him through, come what may
CMO doesn't want tainted officer as his OSD but Shivaprakash is confident that this mentor will see him through, come what may
The chief minister's office is having second thoughts about housing minister V Somanna's choice of C N Shivaprakash as an officer on special duty in his department.
A CMO source said the appointment of Shivaprakash, deputy director in the commercial tax department, has been stalled after MiD DAY's report on the tainted officer. "We are now looking for a suitable replacement from the Vokkaliga community to which he belongs," the source added.
Assets unlimited
MiD DAY had reported how a Lokayukta raid at his house had unearthed assets worth at least Rs 100 crore, including 88 cars which he hired out, sites in Bangalore, Mysore and K R Nagar, 2.3 kg of gold and 26.7 kg of silver.u00a0 Almost all of Shivaprakash's wealth was in the name of his unmarried sister.
The Lokayukta is also following up the case with the government.
A highly-placed source in the Lokayukta said, "One of our senior officers spoke to Somanna and the minister promised to send Shivaprakash back."
Staying put
However, Shivaprakash was seen at the minister's office yesterday, minding official files, and it didn't look like he was going anywhere.
Shivaprakash told MiD DAY that he was hopeful of his posting being regularised shortly.
"It was not my choice. Somanna wanted me in his office and I obliged. It is for him to take a call and I think he will take me."
He isn't worried about breaking rules either by serving in Somanna's office even before being relieved from his earlier posting.
"That's just a formality and Somanna will take care of it," he said.
Somanna could not be reached for his comments.
