Govt suspends Coir Board Secretary over irregularities in tendering and payment process during IICF 2016

New Delhi, May 11 (KNN) The Coir Board Secretary M Kumararaja has been suspended by the Government with immediate effect after an inquiry found out irregularities in tendering and payment process during the India International Coir Fair 2016.

According to a media report, the suspension order issued by the MSME Ministry read "After going through the reports, the competent authority has prima facie found that it is difficult to believe that these severe irregularities can happen without the involvement of the secretary, Coir Board."

Economic Advisor in the MSME ministry D P S Negi will hold additional charge of the Coir Board secretary with immediate effect until further orders.

"It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the headquarters of M Kumararaja... shall be in Kochi and the said M Kumararaja shall not leave the said headquarters without obtaining prior permission of the Ministry of MSME," the suspension order further said.

The India International Coir Fair 2016 was organised by the Coir Board, a body under the MSME Ministry, on July 15- 18 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

An inquiry by the chief vigilance officer of the Coir Board was instituted to probe the expenditure for the conduct of IICF, the media report added.