Mumbai: Govt cracks down on Aarey office drunken den

Government officials drinking alcohol during work hours

Following a mid-day article that revealed that the government office in Aarey Milk Colony was being used as a drinking den, authorities have taken action by issuing a show cause notice to the officials involved. Aarey Milk Colony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Balasaheb Wakchaure, said, "We have initiated action and a show cause notice has been issued to the concerned officials."

According to sources, the new secretary of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department, IAS Tukaram Mundhe, has been keeping a close eye on Aarey Milk Colony and has also paid surprise visits. Taking cognisance of the drinking incident he has instructed the CEO's office to take action against those officials who were involved.

The incident happened in broad daylight

The mid-day article on June 1 highlighted how the government offices of Aarey Milk Colony were turning into a den for tipplers. Senior officials attached to the Aarey CEO's office were allegedly found drinking liquor in broad daylight inside one of the offices. On May 30, the NGO We Will Help (WWH) Charitable Foundation sent a letter to Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Tukaram Mundhe, secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.

In the letter, the NGO has identified officials including senior clerk Vijay Kokhare, assistant chief executive officer Suryakant Khate, agriculture assistant Mahadev Yelkunde, and senior clerk Sanjay Jogi. The letter alleges that these individuals were observed consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes on official premises during work hours. The picture and the names of the officials had also been forwarded to the minister and secretary.