Nayanar, Karunakaran regimes were vindictive towards me: Teeka Ram Meena

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran bureaucrat Teeka Ram Meena who retired from the civil services on Monday disclosed that vindictive action was taken against him by EK Nayanar Government and the K Karunakaran dispensation. He earned the displeasure of the political executives for acting against liquor mafia and for checking the loot of subsidised wheat by traders.

During Nayanar government's tenure Meena was transferred and subsequently suspended. In Karunakaran's rule, adverse remarks were written on his CR (Confidential Report) regarding efficiency in service.

It was Pinarayi Vijayan, who is the current chief minister, who came to my rescue while being hounded during Nayanar government’s time, the former Chief Electoral Officer said.

"In 1996-98 period I was the Thrissur collector. Illicit liquor was widespread following the arrack ban enforced by the then government. I along with the then SP B Sandhya raided godowns of toddy shop licencees. E K Nayanar was the chief minister and T Sivadasa Menon was the excise minister. The latter got provoked for not being informed about the raid despite holding the excise portfolio. We decided to take custody of the house belonging to a licencee as part of recovery proceedings. However, two days before seizing the house I was transferred to Wayanad."

After taking charge in Wayanad, I found that under the Peoples Plan programme the money meant for a housing scheme in the district panchayat had been deposited in private banks to get higher interest rates. In my capacity as the district collector, I had only approved the district panchayat's decision. But when the issue triggered a major controversy, I was placed under suspension. Leaders including Pinarayi Vijayan realised that I was innocent in the matter and hence they opposed the action taken against me. My suspension was withdrawn within four days.

"As civil supplies director during Karunakaran’s tenure I found that subsidised wheat was being taken away by traders for making huge profit selling outside. There were irregularities worth Rs 25 cores. The traders were made to remit Rs 3 crore on account of sales tax evasion.

But the then food and civil supplies minister T H Musthafa was on the side of the traders. He noted adverse remarks on my confidential report. I met both K Karunakaran and A K Antony to get these adverse remarks removed from my CR, but they didn’t help me. It was only after Nayanar government came to power that the adverse remarks were removed from my CR," Meena recollected in an interview coinciding with his retirement.

Meena, who retired as additional chief secretary, on Monday after 34-years of service in Kerala, is returning to his native place.

"For now I am returning to Rajasthan. But if the government gives me any responsibility to serve the people in future, I will gladly take it up. But I will not take up any post for salary. It is better to do farming in my village than work for a salary," Meena said.