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Bhubaneswar, March 12 : The state assembly witnessed expression of concern and some excitement Thursday over a sensational “affair” allegedly involving two senior IAS officials, with the Congress saying it involved a security risk. A complaint by the male official’s wife, also raising allegations that she was being harassed and tortured by her husband, had been sent to the CM’s grievance cell and elsewhere in recent weeks, the assembly heard.
At the centre of the complaint is a highly-placed official with the state government, who also headed an inquiry, while the female official is said to be a senior-level government functionary with the Union Government. The state official had been to Delhi on deputation over a period of two years ending early 2012, and the allegation related partly to that period.
Opposition Congress legislators who raised the issue in the assembly said, “The wife of a senior IAS officer had lodged a complaint of physical and mental torture against her bureaucrat husband,” in the backdrop of the alleged affair. They insisted that they wanted to know what steps the government had taken to provide the complainant wife with security.
Raising the issue through a special mention during Zero Hour, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, “The wife of that senior bureaucrat while filing a case at the Women’s Commission has also sent a complaint against her husband to the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell December 4 last.”
Stating that the complainant wife feared that she apprehended danger to her life, Bahinipati said, “The lady has requested the state government to enquire into the matter and sought steps for her safety and security. But no action has been taken so far.”
He cited an instance in which a lady teacher was killed after she complained against her superiors — a case that is now under CBI investigation — and said the present complaint must be viewed with seriousness.
Bahinipati said, “The matter is also of great public importance as the allegation against the IAS officer serving in the state government is that he is involved in an affair with an (IAS) officer serving under the Government of India, in Delhi, against whom there already are serious allegations of unauthorisedly leaking governmental matters relating to national security.”
“If this relation continues, how safe is the interests of the state in the hands of such an officer here,” he asked.
The names of the officials have not been disclosed by the Congress member, who, however, demanded that the government make a statement.
Reacting to the issue, BJD member and excise minister Damodar Rout said, “It was a personal matter of an official, which shouldn’t have been raised inside the assembly.” Likewise, BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda also said members should refrain from commenting on someone’s personal matter.”
According to the rules of business in Orissa assembly, the government is expected to reply to questions raised through a special mention by the Opposition members within 48 hours, officials in the assembly secretariat said.