Karnataka Govt appoints new excise chief, shifts IAS officers prior to elections

Bengaluru: With an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections, the state government on the advice of the Election Commission of India, has made three major changes in the bureaucracy.

Tech savvy senior IAS officer, Munish Moudgil has been appointed the new excise commissioner. Besides the government has shifted deputy commissioners and commissioners of police of Mangaluru and Belagavi. The DPAR which effected the transfers, made it clear in its order that it was done at the instance of the ECI.

Another senior officer, Naveen Raj Singh has been appointed Commissioner, Transport and Road Safety. Mr Moudgil's appointment as Excise Commissioner is perhaps intended to make the excise department unbiased. The Excise department would play a major role in containing the movement of liquor during the election time. Mr Singh, another no-nonsense officer has been made the transport commissioner to keep a surveillance on private vehicles through which money could be transferred.

Belagavi Commissioner, D.C. Rajappa was transferred after ECI reportedly received complaints. Siimilarly, Mangaluru police commissioner T.R. Suresh was transferred after being accused of being bias towards the ruling party.

The Mysuru DC was transferred. Darpan Jain will replace Shiva Kumar K.B. who was hand picked by CM's office days before the code of conduct was enforced. The BBMP administration which was also under a cloud will see a change with the ECI posting two young officers to keep a tab on the BBMP.