The Chhattisgarh government today suspended IAS officer Ajay Pal Singh, on charges of ‘‘serious indiscipline and misconduct’’. Singh had criticised the government and Tourism and Culture Minister Brij Mohan Aggarwal yesterday.‘‘I have not done anything wrong and I knew it would happen,’’ Singh said today. He claimed there was a conspiracy to remove him from the post of managing director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB), and accused Aggarwal’s involvement. Yesterday, Singh alleged that his life was under threat. ‘‘Aggarwal can get me killed or my son kidnapped. I feel highly insecure and will take up my issue with the PM, Governor and Chief Minister. If I fail to get justice from them, I will choose Jan Jagran (public awareness campaign) as a last resort,’’ he had said.Chief Minister Raman Singh, who returned from an 11-day overseas trip, directed Chief Secretary A.K. Vijayvargia yesterday to send him a report on Singh’s press conference. ‘‘How can you tolerate such indiscipline in the services?’’ said Singh. Meanwhile, Aggarwal, also the Home Minister, said he has ordered an inquiry into Singh’s controversial stay at the Circuit House in Bastar. Last week, Singh had allegedly ‘‘created some scene at Jagdalpur Circuit House’’, where he stayed with three people. IG (Bastar) Girdhari Naik has been asked to probe the incident.‘‘This is not the first case against him. There is another one relating to his trip to Gangrel dam at Damtari,’’ said Aggarwal. The suspended officer issued a three-page statement with details of the Bastar episode. He said he was accompanied by his wife, his friend and the latter’s sister. He claimed that the inquiry would be influenced to frame him on false charges.Aggarwal had handpicked Singh to double as MD and Special Secretary (Tourism), after J. Jayathilak was sent packing last July. Jayathilak has already proceeded on leave. Singh says his trouble with Aggarwal began since he refused to hand over financial and administrative control of the CTB. Later, the Minister appointed a woman assistant manager of the newly-opened Chhattisgarh Tourism Hotel. ‘‘It’s this woman, whom he sacked later, who has been the source of trouble,’’ said Singh. ‘‘I am not one to get cowed down by the Minister’s threats. I will fight to the last and expose his deeds,’’ he said on Thursday.
