IT officer suspended as inquiry into his act of bribe starts

Deputy Director Siddarth Borker allegedly asked for Rs 1 lakh to secure a job to an applicant

Published on:

29 Feb 2024, 2:00 am

PANJIM: The State government on Wednesday suspended the gazetted officer working in the Department of Information Technology (IT) at Altinho, for allegedly asking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in return for contract basis job in InfoTech Corporation of Goa (ITG).

According to Vigilance Department sources, Deputy Director of IT Siddarth S Borker has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him.

Borker was suspended after an audio clip of the official’s conversation, went viral on social media.

During the suspension period, Borker has been asked to remain present in the office and not to leave the headquarters without obtaining prior permission of the competent authority.

On Tuesday the government had processed the file to the Vigilance Department for the suspension of the Gazetted official, for allegedly asking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in return for contract basis job in the ITG went viral on social media.

IT Minister Rohan Khaunte had also told O Heraldo that the process of inquiry was on.

In the purported audio clip, the Gazetted officer was heard convincing the prospective candidate for the post of Senior Associate-Social Media and to give him the money in cash promising return of the money in case he does not get the job.

“I am the authority here,” the official was heard as saying. On November 11, 2023, the ITG had issued advertisement for the post on contract basis with consolidated monthly salary of Rs 75,000.

Meanwhile, Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) led by working president Mahesh Nadar, staged a protest outside the Department of Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications at Altinho, on Wednesday. The protest raised the alarming concerns raised by the youth of Goa regarding the alleged sale of jobs, by exerting undue pressure on them.

Nadar condemned the act of the gazetted officer demanding a bribe of Rs 1 lakh and asked for immediate suspension of the culprit. This follows an audio clip of the official demanding a bribe which went viral on social media.