IAS officer Dr. Nagarjuna B. Gowda, husband of IAS Srushti Jayant Deshmukh, has been accused of reducing a ₹51 crore illegal-mining fine to ₹4,000 while serving in Harda, Madhya Pradesh. He has rejected the allegations, saying the decision was legal and transparent.
Background of the Allegations
The controversy began after a Right to Information activist alleged that Dr. Nagarjuna B. Gowda — then Additional District Magistrate of Harda — had drastically reduced a penalty imposed on a construction company accused of unauthorized murrum excavation for the Indore–Betul National Highway project.
A preliminary notice had proposed a fine of ₹51.67 crore for excavating over three lakh cubic metres of soil without permission. After re-evaluation, official records put the figure at just 2,688 cubic metres, reducing the final penalty to ₹4,032. The sharp difference sparked questions about possible administrative misconduct.
Allegations of Favouritism
Critics claimed that the decision favoured the contractor and that the administration ignored citizen complaints about large-scale mining. Some also alleged that visual evidence such as drone surveys was never collected. The case quickly went viral on social media, prompting calls for an independent inquiry and audit of the records.
Gowda’s Response and Clarification
Dr. Gowda categorically denied any wrongdoing, calling the controversy a “misunderstanding of procedure.” He said the ₹51 crore figure was only a preliminary notice and not a finalized penalty.
“Every action was transparent and legally sound. The initial report was weak and lacked proof of mining. The order was passed as per law and no appeal was filed for two years,” he clarified.
He added that he was not in office when the original notice was issued and that his assessment was based entirely on field data and records available at the time.
Official Statement from Harda Administration
Harda Collector Siddharth Jain later explained that initial mining notices are issued only to seek clarifications and do not represent final fines. He affirmed that the process followed in this case was in line with administrative norms and that no evidence of corruption had been found so far.
Public Reaction and Debate
The incident has ignited a wider discussion on bureaucratic accountability and the scope of discretion in civil service decisions. While some supporters view Dr. Gowda as a victim of political targeting, others believe the state should order a judicial review to maintain public trust.
Among UPSC aspirant circles, where the IAS couple is widely admired, opinions remain divided — some highlight his record of integrity and public service, while others urge complete transparency through an independent audit.
Who Is Dr. Nagarjuna B. Gowda?
- Batch: 2019 IAS (Madhya Pradesh Cadre)
- Education: MBBS doctor from Karnataka
- UPSC Rank: AIR 418 (2018)
- Spouse: IAS Srushti Jayant Deshmukh (AIR 5, 2018)
- Current Position: CEO, Khandwa Zila Panchayat
- Marriage: April 2022 after meeting during training at LBSNAA Mussoorie
Current Status
No official inquiry has been announced yet, though public pressure is mounting for a review. Dr. Gowda has said he is ready to cooperate with any investigation and is confident that records will vindicate him.
The Broader Perspective
The case highlights the fine line between administrative discretion and public perception in India’s bureaucracy. In the social-media age, even routine decisions can trigger national controversies, reminding officials of the need for clarity, communication, and transparency in governance.