Hyderabad: The government of Telangana has sanctioned Rs 15 lakh to IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, who is an additional secretary to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The money was sanctioned for her legal expenses for filing a civil suit worth Rs 10 crore against the management of the Outlook for posting an indecent article on her.
The government order said that the bureaucrat Ms. Sabharwal had intended to file the suit against the magazine for damaging her reputation. The order says that the officer had requested the government to sanction Rs 15 lakh for the legal expenses, including Rs 10 lakh deposit and Rs 5 lakh for additional legal charges. The order also says that if court awards the compensation, the amount can be repaid by her.
In July, the magazine carried a piece and a cartoon saying how the only IAS officer in the Telangana secretariat is making her fashion statement with her lovely sarees and serves as an ‘eye candy’ at meetings. The article didn’t mention names but as Smita Sabharwal is the only female IAS officer in the office, she slapped the magazine and asked for an apology.
With reference to the complaint filed by her husband and IPS officer Akun Sabharwal, the Central Crime Station registered cases against the management and employees.
