Anurag Tiwari attended duty as Commissioner for 37 days – Minister Khader
Mangaluru: “Anurag Tiwari, a 2007 batch Karnataka cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, working as a Commissioner of Food, Civil supplies and Consumer Affairs in Bengaluru, died in mysterious circumstances. Anurag worked in our department from January 14 to May 16. In his 137 days of work, he had attended duty for only 37 days. Last month he had taken leave to go as an election observer to UP”, said the minister for Food and civil Supplies U T Khader in a press meet held at the Circuit house here on May 19.
Addressing the mediapersons U T Khader said, “There are rumours that Anurag had exposed a Rs 2,000 crore-food scam in Karnataka and he was under pressure from politicians and IAS officers. The family members are likely to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to seek a CBI probe”. Let the probe be done and we will co-operate. I have no idea of any pressure on him since in his four-and-half months’ tenure he had attended duty only for 37 days. Let there be an investigation, we will cooperate and support it.”
Khader further said, “Now the opposition is putting allegations which we have not taken seriously. Whenever there is any death or murder the opposition will politicize it and criticise the government. In this incident also they are playing politics. Let the opposition provide all the pieces of evidence. Anurag was an honest officer and he had served in Bidar, Madhugiri and Kodagu. After he joined as the commissioner in Food and Civil Supplies, Anurag was posted to Punjab on election duty as an observer. He did not mention about any pressure at the workplace.”
When asked on whether a commissioner will reveal that he was working under pressure, Khader said, “We do not know if Anurag was working under pressure or not. But he was an honest officer. If there is any doubt about it, we will initiate an inquiry.”
When asked about Anurag’s case to be handed over to the CID, Khader said, “Let BJP hand over the case to the CID, we will fully co-operate with the inquiry”.