New Delhi (29.06.2024): If some well-placed sources are to be believed the Ministry of Steel on Friday revoked the suspension of over 27 senior officials, including two board-level officials of SAIL and a director of iron ore major NMDC. Adopting a carpet approach the Ministry of Steel had on January 19, 2024 placed the officials under suspension following a series of investigations on the directions of Lokpal citing alleged misconduct.
The five months-long trauma of suspension appears to have ended. It brings a sigh of relief. A section of insiders says that it is a mere course correction against the unfortunate administrative adventurism of the then CVO and high headedness of the then minister.
Reportedly, three Board-level officials namely; Vejendla Srinivasa Chakravarthy (Director Commercial, SAIL), Anil Kumar Tulsiani (Director Finance, SAIL) and Vishwanath Suresh (Director Commercial, NMDC) will resume office. Ironically, V Suresh suffered suspension for his previous stint in SAIL. In addition to the three Board-level officials several officials below-board-level were suspended that includes S. K. Sharma (ED, F&A, CMC), Vinod Gupta (ED, Commercial), Atul Mathur (ED, Sales & ITD) and R. M. Suresh (ED, Marketing Services).
If informed sources are to be believed the vigilance department had moved the complaints without the approval of Chairman, SAIL. Following Lokpal’s direction for investigations the then minister displayed displeasure and the ministry directed SAIL to place all of them in the list under suspension.
Sources say that the main culprits, including the then ED (Sales & International Trade) SAIL, moved unpunished as they retired but others paid a price for the carpet approach of suspension.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
