UP govt on backfoot, reaches out to Durga

LUCKNOW: Less than 12 hours after aggressively defending Noida SDM Durga Sakthi Nagpal's suspension and saying the decision had nothing to do with the sand mafia, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday swung into damage-control mode and reached out to the disputed officer.

The change of heart was apparently triggered by a video that went viral showing SP Lok Sabha candidate from GB Nagar, Narendra Bhati, making a chest-thumping speech to local supporters and taking credit for Nagpal's suspension in "41 minutes."

With chief minister Akhilesh Yadav out of town, Nagpal, attached to the board of revenue after being placed under suspension, met with the state's senior bureaucracy on Friday.

Chief secretary Jawed Usmani confirmed to TOI that Nagpal met him and clarified her position.

He, however, said that Nagpal did not make any written representation to him.