Secy to reply to Renuka, at proper forum

Pillai has already been transferred to the Department of Alternative Medicine, under the Ministry of Health, and will take charge on Monday. The IAS Officers’ Association will take up her matter on March 3.

Describing the personal attack by Chowdhury as ‘‘unfortunate and traumatic’’, Pillai said: ‘‘The charges are incorrect and will have to be responded factually. I am bound by the code of conduct for government servants and cannot talk to the press. I will take it up at an appropriate forum.’’

Chowdhury had levelled a series of charges against Pillai and had accused her of misusing her official position. Declining to get into the specifics, Pillai said, ‘‘There are other issue that will be taken up at an appropriate forum.’’

Pillai incurred Chowdhary’ wrath when she suggested that the Ministry should keep out of ITDC’s commercial dealings, as the latter was not ready to part with power of the PSU’s financial transactions.

Meanwhile, the new ITDC chairman and managing director Rajeev Talwar, who succeeded Amitabh Kanth in the midst of all the controversy, over unavailability of premier Scotch whisky Black label, did not comment on the reports that the Ministry is seeking yet another probe into alleged irregularities in liquor purchases by the corporation’s duty-free shops.

‘‘I have no idea… vigilance is not in my area…,’’ he said. Talwar said there was excess of Scotch whisky and this will be provided to Delhi duty-free shops from other regions. He, however, ducked queries on reports that Chowdhury was contemplating blacklisting the manufacturers of Johny Walker brands.