A disciplinary inquiry has been ordered against 1985-batch IAS officer Arvind Kumar over his alleged use of foul language and levelling allegations on WhatsApp against senior colleagues. Kumar has also been relieved as the additional chief secretary (ACS) in the state Rural Development department.
The Thackeray-led General Administration department issued Kumar a show-cause notice on why action should not be taken against him for misconduct.
Earlier, Kumar was forcibly removed from an official WhatsApp group of secretary-grade IAS officers after his alleged use of foul language and lavelling of unsubstantiated allegations against three former chief secretaries and a serving bureaucrat. Kumar is also alleged to have levelled allegations against these officials on another official WhatsApp group, comprising young IAS officers who are serving as Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Parishads in the state.
According to sources, the CM ordered a disciplinary action after senior state officials pointed out this is not the first occasion when Kumar had used “objectionable and intemperate” language against fellow officials on the WhatsApp group. Our sources reveal further that, at least a couple of former chief secretaries, had lodged complaints against Kumar.
Kumar has been pulled up for bad behaviour in the past as well. In 2007, he was placed under suspension when he was an observer in Uttar Pradesh and had snatched a rifle from a BSF constable, but an inquiry conducted into the incident had later exonerated him. During the previous Devendra
Fadnavis regime, Kumar had faced complaints of misconduct following which he was relegated to side postings.
IAS Officer, Kumar, when contacted have confirmed to receiving the show-cause notice, but declined to comment on the same.
