Umashankar back in saddle

CHENNAI: The State government on Thursday night revoked the suspension of senior IAS officer C Umashankar and posted him as managing director of Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation (TANSI). Umashankar was suspended on July 21, while he was functioning as the Commissioner of Small Savings, on charges of producing a fake community certificate to join the IAS two decades ago.

When contacted, Umashankar said, "The victory goes to Jesus Christ. I have put my full faith in Jesus Christ and the Lord has delivered me from the crisis. I thank all the newspapers, especially the New Indian Express, which stood by my side at the time of crisis. I thank all the Dalit organisations, Left parties, AIADMK and the PMK for supporting my cause."

A government order (GO) issued on Thursday recalled that Umashankar was placed under suspension in view of the disciplinary proceedings and an inquiry on his Scheduled Caste certificate. Subsequently, charges were framed against him.

Since the inquiry has been initiated, the government has revoked the suspension, the GO claimed. The period of suspension shall be regulated on the outcome of the inquiry and disciplinary proceedings initiated against him, it added.

A couple of months ago, the government had directed the Directorate of Vigilance and AntiCorruption to conduct an inquiry into the allegations that Umashankar possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He challenged it in the high court.