Bengaluru: The Revenue Department has directed the immediate release of Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) currently assigned to duties in the offices of Deputy Commissioners, District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, and Tahsildars, instructing them to return to their original posts.

Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria issued a circular on Tuesday emphasizing that despite repeated instructions, several VAOs continue to be engaged in duties outside their designated roles. The government has taken note of this and has now mandated their immediate reassignment to their original positions.

The directive comes in the wake of increasing workload and staff shortages in the Revenue Department, particularly as the government is implementing various citizen-centric projects aimed at streamlining and digitizing administrative processes. Kataria stressed that VAOs play a crucial role in these initiatives, and their absence from their original posts has led to added pressure on existing staff.

The circular warns that failure to comply with the order will invite disciplinary action. Officials have been instructed to ensure that all VAOs currently on special assignments are relieved immediately and resume their original responsibilities.

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Pune, Feb 10 (PTI): Amidst high drama, former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant’s son Rishiraj was brought back to Pune along with two friends on late Monday evening, cutting short their trip to Bangkok, hours after police filed a kidnapping case, officials said.

According to Ranjan Kumar Sharma, joint commissioner of police, Rishiraj Sawant (32) and his two friends had booked a chartered plane for Bangkok without informing his family, but an anonymous phone call spoilt their travel plans.

After police registered a kidnapping case following the anonymous call made to the control room, his whereabouts were traced and he was brought back to Pune along with his friends, he said at a hurriedly convened press conference.

"Our police control room received a call around 4 pm in which an anonymous caller informed us that Rishiraj was taken away by some unidentified people. Accordingly, we swung into action and registered a kidnapping offence.

"During the probe, it was revealed Rishiraj along with his two friends had booked a chartered plane for Bangkok. We tracked the flight and contacted the airline for the aircraft's return. The flight has now returned to Pune with three passengers, including Rishiraj," informed Sharma.

"We will enquire and find out the purpose of his trip to Bangkok and why he did not inform the family about his travel plans," the police officer said.

While replying to a question, Tanaji Sawant, who was present at the police briefing, denied any dispute with his son.

According to police sources, the flight to the Thailand capital was booked for Rs 78 lakh.

The former minister said he contacted police after coming to know his son had left for the airport with friends without informing the family.

A week ago, Rishiraj Sawant had gone to Dubai, but this trip was known to family members, said the senior politician.

Asked about the police machinery going into an overdrive to trace his son and bring him back, the former minister maintained was worried as a father.

Joint commissioner of police Sharma said the anonymous call indicated Rishiraj Sawant was taken away by unidentified people and on that basis, an FIR of kidnapping was registered.

The IPS officer opined that in such cases, things do not proceed unless an FIR is registered and that is why police moved quickly and filed an offence.