Two sports ministry officials shifted for not keeping top brass informed on the arrival of stars

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has shunted two top IAS officers from the sports ministry for not keeping the top brass informed on the arrival of stars, including Ambani, Rajinikanth, Sachin Tendulkar, A. R. Rahman and Aishwarya Rai at the opening of the much hyped ISL football tournament.

A government order issued by chief secretary K. Gnanadesikan, dated October 8, placed Hemant Kumar Sinha additional chief secretary, youth welfare and sports development and member-secretary, Shambu Kallolikar, in the waiting list.

The government order circulated to the sports ministry departments late Friday evening read, “D. Sabitha, principal secretary, school education, will hold full additional charge of the post of additional chief secretary, youth welfare and sports development. Similarly, the principal secretary post to SDAT will also be held by the education secretary”, the order added.

According to secretariat insiders, the top babus failed to take adequate measures required for receiving the top celebrities in the stadium and also failed to communicate about the high profile event to the office of Chief secretary.

An SDAT insider said officials at Nehru stadium (the venue for ISL) were unaware of the list of guests attending the opening match between Chennai – Kolkata and this created the trigger for the no-nonsense official Shambu Kallolikar, who had been instrumental in streamlining coaching and canteens for young Tamil Nadu athletes.