Saptarishi sent back to parent cadre

L.V. Saptarishi, the official who had alleged that the Election Commission countermanded the Chhapra polls because of its anti-Yadav bias, has been repatriated to his parent cadre.

In a statement today, the government said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the repatriation of Saptarishi, the Director-General of Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology, ‘‘with immediate effect’’. His remarks had created a furore. Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav had even demanded the resignation of the then ECs, B.B. Tandon and N. Gopalswami. The Department of Personnel and Training had recommended that Saptarishi be censured and repatriated to his parent cadre. The file had been pending at the PMO since. A more stringent action was not taken as Saptarishi retires on July 31, said sources.