Wife holds fashion show at home, IAS officer removed

A fashion show organised by an IAS officer’s wife at his official residence on Wednesday, and a television report of the same...

A fashion show organised by an IAS officer’s wife at his official residence on Wednesday, and a television report of the same, which commented that Mayawati’s “officers have become out of control”, prompted the Chief Minister to remove Agriculture Production Commissioner Anees Ansari from his post late on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Government issued a letter asking Ansari to explain within seven days the justification of Victorian Tea Party organised by his fashion designer wife Asma Hussain, at their 4, Vikramaditya Marg home on March 19.

The show — displaying Hussain’s “spring collection” before a select audience of women — including some senior bureaucrats’ wives — turned a fiasco later at night when an irate Chief Minister ordered the removal of Ansari. According to sources, two Principal Secretary-level officers had informed the Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh about the event. He asked another senior officer to watch the news being aired on television.

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When the matter was reported to Mayawati, she called a meeting. It was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, Chief Secretary PK Mishra, Principal Secretary, Appointment, JS Dipak and the Commissioner Lucknow, Vijay Shankar Pandey.

The CM asked the officials if such an event amounts to a violation of code of conduct and on getting an answer in affirmative, her instant reaction was suspension of the APC. Later, it was decided that he should be removed and asked to give an explanation.

Wives of IAS officers who attended the event said they were to;d about it at the monthly get-together of the IAS Ladies Club.

Hussain said: “The ladies’ club organises a get-together every month. This time I was the hostess and to make things different, I made it a theme party”. She said she had invited the media with some Page 3 coverage in mind. Over 60 guests were from the ladies’ club.

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“The episode has not damaged me as a designer, but using me they have hurt him (Ansari) and his reputation,” she added.

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