Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 8 (PTI) Senior CPI(M) leader V N Vasavan on Sunday alleged that IAS officer Seeram Sambasiva Rao was transferred from his post as Excise Commissioner because he was an honest official who refused to cooperate with the "corrupt activities" of the UDF government.
Vasavan, a former Devaswom Minister of the state, made the allegation while speaking to reporters about Rao's transfer and subsequent appointment as Special Secretary in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Department.
"S Sambasiva Rao is an honest IAS officer who performed his duties diligently. He was transferred because he was doing his job honestly and was unwilling to participate in the corrupt activities of the present UDF government," Vasavan alleged.
He also demanded a thorough examination of the criticisms and allegations raised by Rao regarding the functioning of the Excise Department.
Rao's transfer came amid dissatisfaction expressed by state Excise Minister M Liju over the department officials' decision to grant bar and horti-wine licences.
Liju had publicly criticised the officials after three bars in Ernakulam and Kottayam districts were granted licences under the liquor policy of the previous LDF government.
The minister maintained that the UDF government was in the process of formulating its own liquor policy and that no licences should be issued under the previous government's policy until the new one was finalised.
He subsequently suspended two Excise Deputy Commissioners for granting licences to the three bars.
The minister had also expressed dissatisfaction over the issuance of a licence to a bakery chain based in Chalakudy to sell horti-wine, a provision permitted under the previous government's policy.
He intervened to cancel the licence and transferred the official who had granted it.
