Staff suspended, another dismissed for selling Govt blankets

Bokaro Deputy Commissioner MK Baranawal suspended one official of the Social Welfare department while dismissed another over stealing and selling blankets, which were meant for free distribution to the poor on Thursday evening.

Rajiv Nayan, the head clerk, was suspended, while another staff Kamla Devi was dismissed after being found guilty, district administration officials said.

Following a complaint that department officials are selling blankets, Barnawal constituted a team led by Executive Magistrate Aruna Kumari and Assistant Director of Social Welfare Ravishankar Mishra.

The team conducted raids in the residential premises of Rajiv Nayan and Kamla Devi and recovered huge stock of government’s blankets, said an official.

“During the raid 43 blankets kept in two jute bags and hidden in the garage were recovered from the head clerk Nayan’s house while 163 blankets (4 bags) recovered from Kamala’s house,” he added.

Both have failed to give any explanation, so the head clerk was suspended while another was dismissed, said the DC adding, “an inquiry was set up and disciplinary action would be taken against the head clerk”.