Chief Secy says I quit as tough cops shunted out in Bihar's Buta Raj
Indian Express, July 30, 2005
  
PATNA, JULY 29: Buta Raj is turning out to be worse than Laloo Raj,'' is how a senior bureaucrat reacted today when news about Chief Secretary G S Kang proceeding on long leave spread like wildfire rocking Bihar's officialdom.

Kang's decision to proceed on leave comes a day after two controversial marching orders: Siwan SP Ratn Sanjay, who had dared to raid the controversial RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, has been moved out as Commandant of Bihar Military Police, a job that has got very little to do with law and order. And Patna City SP Shaleen, hounded by his bosses for cracking down on alleged corruption in the police force, has been shunted to Nawada.


Though Kang won't state the reason for his decision, no one was left in any doubt that it was his way of protesting against the transfers which were learnt to have been carried out against his advice.

That the Chief Secretary had revolted was quite clear. First, he addressed his leave letter to the Governor. Then he surrendered his official car and mobile phone and in an application asked for his official landline at his residence to be disconnected.

According to sources, he has said in his letter that he had learnt about the transfers from the press and he felt his advice was not needed. When contacted, he declined to comment. However, when asked whether he was protesting against the transfer of the two police officers, he told The Indian Express: ''You should put this question to the Governor.''

Buta Singh was silent on the issue. By evening, the drama over the transfers threatened to escalate. Siwan District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Mall, exercising his right under clause 20 B of the police manual, served an order on SP Ratn Sanjay that he should not leave the headquarters till his replacement took charge.

He cited the law and order situation in Siwan for restraining the SP. But by the time his order could reach Ratn Sanjay, he had left. ''I have no idea about the order. I have the marching orders and I am on my way to Patna to join my new posting,'' he told The Indian Express over phone.

Back in the state capital, Patna Rural SP G P Sinha, who was ordered to replace Ratn Sanjay, cited family problems and forwarded a sick leave application, expressing his inability to join.

Though some other officials were also transferred, these are the two cases which have put a question mark over Raj Bhawan's motives. Ratn Sanjay was posted as the SP of Siwan on the orders of the Election Commission just before the Assembly elections. His actions, in association with the then DM, C K Anil, had turned the heat on Shahabuddin and his gang members. Meanwhile, Patna City SP Shaleen, had been hounded by his bosses when he took on DSP Arshad Zaman, accused of passing off the alleged murder of a young woman as suicide. So far no action has been taken against the DSP.