DODGING THE CM GURURAJ IS LEADING IN THE GAME OF SURVIVAL

 By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th May 2011 issue-

                                               DODGING THE CM

            GURURAJ IS LEADING IN THE GAME OF SURVIVAL

We have already exposed in our earlier issues the double name conspiracy of M. N. Gururaj Rao, the Assistant Secretary in KPSC. He is simultaneously using another name as M.N Gururaj and managing the affairs of Lokseva Housing Co-op Society to avoid legal complications.

What is interesting is that everybody in the KPSC knows this dual role of M. N.Gururaj Rao, but nobody has any guts to take action in this regard. Shocking is the fact that, even the Chief Minister’s directions in this regard has yielded no results. The CM had sent two letters which ended up in the waste paper basket of Gururaj himself. While, this clearly explains the ‘clout’ and manipulation expertise of M. N. Gururaj, it is high time that somebody who matters in the Government or the Lokayukta intervenes and checks the criminal offences of M. N. Gururaj Rao.

Everybody accuses the Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa of managing every institution to insulate himself from the multifaceted and multidimensional scams. The opposition parties, his own party and even the BJP High command have become helpless before the might of B. S. Yedurappa, who has been successful in saving himself in repeated adversity.

But it is wonder that a small time official in Karnataka Public Service Commission has beaten Yedurappa in the art of survival and warding off any threat to his vested interests. The official is none other than M. N. Gururaja Rao, the present Assistant Secretary in KPSC and also its Public Information Officer who also functions as MN Gururaj, the Secretary of the Lokaseva Housing Co-Op Society.

As M. N. Gururaj Rao, he is bound by the Civil Service Rules applicable to every Government employees. He simply cannot function with a different name and if he does, it is a criminal offence, as per the service rules. But M. N. Gururaj Rao functions as M. N. Gururaj and manages the affairs of the Lokaseva Housing Society dealing with crores of members’ money and responsible for the law of the land. The Co-op department officials have also allowed M. N. Gururaj to function as the Honourable Secretary of the Housing Society since its formation despite the fact that the rule stipulates that, every co-op society should have a qualified paid secretary However, no body has taken any actions or not even bothered to raise any objections.

It was your TBMR which raised this issue, yet, nobody took any action. After providing sites to all the KPSC employees who paid sital money in the Nagadevanahalli Layout, M. N. Gururaj, instead of winding up the society converted it into a real estate agency. TBMR has already exposed this in its earlier issues as to how M. N. Gururaj collected crores of rupees from the aspirants for the last seven years promising them sites in Yelahanka layout and even to this day has not even submitted the layout plan to BDA for sanction.

Whatsoever, now what if somebody files a case of cheating against M. N. Gururaj who is the Secretary since its formation? The court/police will issue summons in the name of M. N. Gururaj, the Secretary of the Lok Seva Housing Co-operative Society and the summons can be refused by him by stating that he is M. N. Gururaja Rao, the Assistant Secretary in KPSC! There is absolutely nothing ‘official’ about M. N. Gururaj Rao changing his name as M. N. Gururaj. If that was so, he should have mentioned it in KPSC official records. But, he is still acting and signing as M. N. Gururaj Rao, Asst. Secretary and PIO in KPSC while acting and signing as M. N. Gururaj in the Lokaseva Housing Co-operative Society records!

This is a very serious and criminal offence especially so when it is committed by a Government official that too a gazette official! But nobody wants to take action, least of all, KPSC top brass including its Honourable Chairman and equally Honourable members, as M. N.Gururaj has been their legman in many dealings and also has provided them sites.

Still, a complaint reached the Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa on 1.9.2009. B. S. Yedurappa then directed the DPAR to take suitable action against M. N. Gururaj who is using two names, vide letter No. CM/33066/REP-GEN/2009 dated: 1.9.2009. As is natural, the DPAR should have held an enquiry into the matter which would have substantiated the charges. But, M. N. Gururaj who had high links in DPAR managed the matter. The DPAR simply forwarded the complaint to the KPSC which reached the Establishment Section that is M. N. Gururaj himself. And how one could expect M. N. Gururaj Rao to act on complaints against himself? He simply blocked the movement of the DPAR reference and killed it.

Then, again on 17.2.2011, the CM gave another direction to the DPAR vide CM/6272/REP-GEN/2011 to take suitable action against M. N. Gururaj. Here again, the CM’s direction to the DPAR was forwarded to KPSC that is M. N. Gururaj himself. In fact, in such a situation, the DPAR should have conducted and enquiry and directed the KPSC Secretary to initiate criminal prosecution against M. N. Gururaj after dismissing him from service! But M. N. Gururaj here too was successful to defend himself even against the CM’s personal section.

The Chief Minister of course is a powerful entity and can manage his survival comparatively well in times of adversity since he has at his disposal ample of resources. But, a small time official channeling his own complaint letters to himself and then subsiding the matter itself explains the success of Democracy in India. The Chief Minister is helpless as both of his communications have actually reached the culprit for actions and he has freezed it. To put it simply, M. N. Gururaj has surpassed Yedurappa in the art of survival.