NAGPUR, DECEMBER 16: The State Government is likely to appoint a retired judge of the Bombay High Court or a retired senior bureaucrat to investigate into the charges of gross misuse of power against suspended Excise Commissioner Ashok Lal.``Lal has been suspended on December 2 on the basis of the recommendations made by a high-level committee. We have already filed a chargesheet against him and in the process of appointing an inquiry officer,'' a senior official said.Following a complaint lodged by Anil Paropkari, the Election Commission had asked the State Government to probe into charges of misuse of official position against the controversial bureaucrat. Subsequently, the government appointed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) V Rangnathan to probe into the charges. In his report, Rangnathan confirmed that Lal had misused his position and that the government should initiate disciplinary action against him.Meanwhile, Excise Minister Vasant Chavan informed Vinayak Raut in a written reply that achargesheet has been filed against Lal and that a departmental inquiry will be conducted against him.The main charges against Lal are that he flouted the rules and guidelines laid down by the government while transferring inspectors and sub-inspectors; he renewed licences for country as well as foreign liquor shops, though it was beyond his powers; granted permission for shifting of a country liquor shop outside the district, which was again not within his powers; exercised the powers of the collectors, particularly while granting permission for permit rooms and addition or removal of the names of the partners; ignored rules and guidelines, particularly while hearing the appeals filed by closed beer bars and one unit was granted permission for transfer, which was not within his powers.Chavan informed that the government has already suspended two assistant commissioners and one office superintendent for their involvement in large scale irregularities.
