Author:
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: March 27, 2001
The centre today suspended director
in the home ministry, Thomas Mathew, for his alleged involvement in the
Tehelka expose.
"It has been brought to government's
notice that despite being a government servant, Mathew has actively participated
in political activities, and associated himself with the activities of
political parties and organisations having political undertones/overtones,"
a home ministry spokesman told reporters. He said that besides Mr Mathew,
a central secretariat service officer "is also reported to have entered
into several transactions of immovable and movable property, without prior
or subsequent intimation to the government as required under the conduct
rules".
A probe against Mr Mathew was ordered
on March 22, in the wake of a Delhi newspaper report alleging that a conspiracy
to carry out the expose was hatched in his office, to "discredit and bring
about collapse of the Vajpayee government". Earlier, he had been asked
to give his version on the reported allegations.
The home ministry spokesman said,
"Mr Mathew was also found to be prima-facie involved in an incident of
leakage of classified information, for which a probe is separately being
conducted." He said the reply of the director, who joined service in 1975
as a direct recruit section officer, was awaited.
The spokesman said, "Mr Mathew has
also allegedly violated conduct rules meant for government servants." Prior
to his posting in the home ministry as director in September '98, he had
worked in different capacities in various ministries. He was also OSD to
Ram Vilas Paswan when he was the railway minister. At present, he is looking
after organisational works.
"Based on the findings of the inquiry,
appropriate action against the officer will be initiated," the home ministry
spokesman said.
