The Centre has suspended with immediate effect M Kumara Raja, Secretary, Coir Board, after finding “severe irregularities” in the conduct of the India International Coir Fair, 2016, held in Coimbatore from July 15-18 last year.

DPS Negi, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), will hold additional charge until further orders, said an order letter dated May 9, signed by RR Meena, Deputy Secretary, Government of India.

At present, the Coir Board is headed by CP Radhakrishnan, a former BJP MP from Coimbatore, who was appointed on January 27, 2016. Kumara Raja, 50, has been Secretary of the Kochi-headquartered Coir Board since September 2004.

An enquiry had been conducted by the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Khadi & Village Industries Corp, which made observations on irregularities in the tendering and payment process. The expenditure was also audited by the internal audit team of the MSME Ministry, which made similar observations.

“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,” read the order.

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