Transferred 29 times in 9 yrs, K Mathai back in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Karnataka Administrative Service officer K Mathai who was shunted out of the city corporation for blowing the whistle on the Rs 2,000 crore illegal hoardings scam is finding support in chief minister Siddaramaiah's Cabinet for a posting in Bengaluru.

"The chief minister has taken a view that Mathai should be kept in Bengaluru. The file has been signed and is going to the department of personnel and administrative reforms. His exact posting in the city will be notified," chief minister's principal secretary-II Tushar Girinath said.

At least three ministers had petitioned Siddaramaiah to post Mathai to their respective departments and anull his "punishment" transfer to Bagalkot. Apparently, the chief secretary too recommended that Mathai be posted in Bengaluru.

In his nine years of service in the KAS, Mathai has been transferred 29 times. The 56-year old officer, with three years to retire, was transferred out of the BBMP where he was assistant commissioner ( markets) and posted to Bagalkot as special land acquisition officer in May this year. Mathai went on medical leave and did not report at his new post.

While at BBMP, Mathai submitted eight reports highlighting how the civic body lost Rs 2,000 crore in taxes since 2007, when advertising licences were decentralised. In one report, Mathai found that the annual advertisement tax potential, in Shantala Nagar ward alone, was Rs 3.96 crore. Earlier, as Mandya Urban Development Authority commissioner, Mathai unearthed irregularities to the tune of Rs 300 in allotment of sites.This is now being probed by the CBI.

Mathai joined the Air Force in 1979 and served in Operation Blue Star in Punjab in 1984. He opted for voluntarily retirement in 1999 and took the state civil services exam. He was appointed seven years later as there was a freeze on new recruitments.

While Mathai's new posting is yet to be announced, the ministers who spoke for him Urban Development minister R Roshan Baig, Food and Civil Supplies minister UT Khader and Revenue minister Kagodu Thimmappa want Mathai appointed to their departments.

On his part, Mathai is waiting for an audience with the chief minister."I've been subjected to harassment because of the scams I've exposed.I'm confident that I will get justice," he said.

"So many KAS officers hang on to a post in Bengaluru for years, whereas upright officers like Mathai are punished," RTI activist Sai Dutta said.