V. Rashmi Mahesh

Summary

V. Rashmi Mahesh, a 1996-batch Karnataka IAS officer, was reported to have been transferred 19 to 23 times in 17–18 years. Reports link her moves to clashes over private and minority medical colleges: she was left without a post after exposing alleged seat-selling (2011–12), and sent on what was called forced leave from Medical Education (2014). At the Administrative Training Institute she reported alleged misuse of about ₹100 crore under her predecessor, was assaulted by contract workers, and was then served a notice for going to the press and relieved of an additional post. No public action on her ATI report was found.

Bangalore Mirror (Mar 2015): 'transferred as many as 19 times' in 17 years.

This count comes from analyses of service records, not from a reported dispute. Few of these moves have a published reason, and a high count is not evidence that the officer was punished.

1. 2012One report

   Director, Pre-University Board(no post)

   Bangalore Mirror says that as PU board director in 2011–12 she exposed minority professional colleges allegedly selling medical seats meant for minority students, and was then transferred and left without a post. Managements 'affiliated to various political parties' allegedly pressed the government.

   Up against

   Managements of minority medical colleges (unnamed), Unnamed; described as affiliated to various parties Government: BJP (D. V. Sadananda Gowda / Jagadish Shettar, CM).

   Reported reason

   Per Bangalore Mirror.

   The other side said

   Not found.

   Bangalore Mirror, Mar 2015

2. 2014Documented

   Secretary, Medical Education(forced leave)

   She refused requests from politicians who run medical colleges over the seat-sharing matrix and was sent on what was widely called 'forced leave'; the opposition protested.

   Up against

   Politicians who run private medical colleges (unnamed) Government: Congress (Siddaramaiah, CM).

   Reported reason

   Per India Today and Bangalore Mirror.

   The other side said

   The government said she had gone on leave (Bangalore Mirror, paraphrase).

   Bangalore Mirror, Mar 2015 · India Today, Oct 2014

3. Oct 2014Documented

   DG, Administrative Training Institute, Mysuru, with additional charge as Regional Commissioner, MysuruDG, ATI only (RC charge withdrawn)

   Posted to ATI in July 2014, she reported to the government that about a third of ₹391 crore received by ATI in 2008–14, under her predecessor Amita Prasad, had been misused, alleging posts created without sanction, appointments without selection and agencies picked without tenders. She cancelled contract extensions. On 15 October 2014 she was assaulted on campus by contract workers after a worker's suspected suicide; 19 people were arrested. Days later she was given a notice for disclosing her report to the press and relieved of the Regional Commissioner charge, losing the gunman attached to it.

   Up against

   Amita Prasad (subject of her report); ATI contractors, Former DG, ATI (IAS); contractors Government: Congress (Siddaramaiah, CM).

   Reported reason

   TOI linked the RC move to her ATI report; Revenue Minister V. Srinivasa Prasad had publicly assured she would not be moved. TOI counted 23 transfers in 18 years.

   The officer said

   She said the 'government has not taken her report seriously' (TOI, paraphrase).

   The other side said

   The government issued a notice asking why she went to the press without permission (India Today, Oneindia). No statement on the RC move found. No response from Amita Prasad found.

   Outcome

   19 arrested over the assault; a sub-inspector suspended; a CID inquiry into police lapses.

   What became of the matter

   Unknown. Whether the government ordered the "thorough probe" she recommended into ATI spending, and what became of the notice against her, was not found. The Times of India, Oct 2014

   The Times of India, Oct 2014 · India Today, Oct 2014 · The Indian Express, Oct 2014 · Oneindia, Oct 2014