ED’s action on IAS Dr Subodh shocks entire bureaucracy!

Jaipur: November 3, 2023, will go down in the state’s administrative history as one of the most remembered days because a new record, of sorts, was created on this day when a central investigative agency conducted a search in the rooms of the minister and senior IAS in the Secretariat. In fact, the state’s own investigative agency ACB has never checked the room of the state Secretariat.

It may be that a search by investigative agencies, of homes and even government offices or any other place outside the secretariat, may not be considered to be a major action, but ED’s entry in the Secretariat on November 3 was definitely an uncommon development. In fact, some people believe that ED’s action has tarnished the honour of the Secretariat.

When MP Kirodi Lal Meena levelled allegations of major corruption in Jal Jeevan Mission, since then it has been suspected that anything can happen. But a raid on politicians’ houses in other cases and a search in the home as well as the office of ACS rank senior bureaucrat Subodh Agrawal are two completely different things. The development has shocked entire state bureaucracy.

IAS Subodh Agrawal, since the beginning of his career, has never been on important posts. He has definitely served as private secretary to union ministers, but in spite of his umpteen efforts he did not get a call for deputation to centre. In fact, the state government even helped him once in this matter going out of the way.

In the current government, his hope of getting important posts were answered when one after the other he was given prime postings i.e. Industries, Energy, Mines, PHED and Irrigation.

In the lure of working in important and major departments, Agrawal agreed to work under his junior Niranjan Arya as Chief Secretary. This too has happened for the first time.

In the five years, the type of controversial and audacious decisions he took, has shocked senior IAS posted in the Secretariat. In fact, the finance department even stopped tenders worth over one thousand crore rupees due to various irregularities in Jal Jeevan Mission.

Now all eyes are on ED and the nature and depth of action it takes in the matter!