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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, SEPT 7: The Election Commission of India (EC) has directed the state government to transfer state Excise Commissioner, Ashok Lal, following receipt of several complaints of extortion and threats to bar owners, who were allegedly told to contribute to the election expenses of state Excise Minister, Prakash Mehta. The EC is believed to be so upset with the senior bureaucrat that he is yet to be assigned a new posting.
Sources in the state Election Commission say several wine shop and bar owners had lodged complaints with the commission against Lal, alleging that the commissioner had personally called on them to demand contributions to the minister’s election expenses. Though complaints have been received from various parts of Maharasthra, most of them have been lodged from suburban Mumbai. In fact, most of these were from owners of ladies’ bars. Lal is alleged to have told them that he would cancel their excise licences, file cases of illegal sale of liquour and for violation of prohibitory orders if they failed to meet his demands.
Confirming Lal’s transfer, state Chief Electoral Officer, Dr D K Sankaran, told Express Newsline: “The Election Commission had received a lot of complaints alleging that Lal was collecting money for the minister.” The Election Commission of India has ordered the state government to conduct an inquiry and initiate appropriate action. “Lal has been transferred with immediate effect,” Sankaran says. The government, however, has not initiated an inquiry or action against Prakash Mehta, sources say.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Ajit Kumar Jain, who is a former state excise commissioner, has been given additional charge pending a new appointment.
This is the second occasion when a senior bureaucrat has been transferred by the Election Commission of India. Last month, Solapur district collector Madhav Sangle was transferred on a complaint from Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, for ordering the removal of safron flags from atop the famous Vitthal temple at Pandharpur citing the model code of conduct.
