Anand collector suspended for misconduct

Anand district collector D S Gadhvi was suspended from his post on Wednesday on charges of misconduct and moral turpitude. 

In a separate order issued during the day, he government appointed Milind Bapna, the district development officer (DDO) of Anand, to assume the additional responsibilities of the collector.

A committee comprising five women officers, led by Sunaina Tomar, the ACS of the social justice and empowerment department, has been formed to investigate the matter. This committee is tasked with submitting its report to the state government within a month.

The disciplinary action against Gadhvi was initiated after a video allegedly depicting him in a compromising position with a woman within his office went viral. 

The government reportedly verified the authenticity of the video before proceeding with the disciplinary measures against the 2008-batch promoted IAS officer.

However, it is important to note that The Times of India has not been able to independently verify the credibility of the video.

Government sources revealed that alongside the video clip, objectionable WhatsApp conversations have also allegedly been brought to the attention of the authorities. 

It is reported that Gadhvi's phone will be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory.

The five-member investigative committee consists of Sunaina Tomar; Mamta Verma, principal secretary, energy department; Manisha Chandra, secretary, rural development department; Deviben Pandya, a retired joint secretary officer; and Bhaktiben Shamal, a joint secretary level officer. Ashok Dave, an additional secretary-level officer, will serve as the member secretary of the committee.

It is noteworthy that Tomar, Verma, Chandra, and Dave were also part of the committee that investigated allegations of moral turpitude against IAS officer Gaurav Dahiya.

He was reinstated in service last month after being suspended in August 2019 for "misconduct and moral turpitude".