Pollution board plans to move court against Alexander

The defiant ex-chairman is still in no mood to return the furniture he took home from office

The defiant ex-chairman is still in no mood to return the furniture he took home from office

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has not been able to recover the furniture that the former chairman J Alexander took home five years ago.

Alexander, former minister and president of the Bangalore City Unit of the Congress, is not responding to reminders. The board officials say they have no option but to take legal action now.

AT HOME: Some furniture at the Congress leader's house belongs to the Pollution Board file pic

Defiant

"When he did not respond to the reminders, we asked him to buy out the furniture at half price," said an official. "But, he is not even agreeing to that. So we have to take stern action now." When contacted, a defiant Alexander said, "The board knows whether I have returned the furniture or not. It's between me and the board, and none of your business."

Alexander has kept for himself sofa sets, cots and tables, worth Rs 5 lakh, belonging to the KSPCB. He had to return them after his two-year term as chairman ended in 2004.

The Pollution Board had provided him with furniture, a car and three security guards, as the chairman's post is considered equal in rank to that of a cabinet minister. Although the car and the guards have gone back to the board, the plush furniture continues to remain at Alexander's house.

MiD DAY had reported the story in Last November, and had visited Alexander's house on CMH Road, Indiranagar, to see the furniture when his son Alexander Jose posed on an expensive sofa. We also saw a dining table made of teak. Jose was not aware they had to be returned to the Pollution Board.u00a0

N Saratchandra, current chairman of the board, said, "We will discuss the issue in the next board meeting, we have to recover the materials and I can say the legal action is definitely in the offing."

What he took home
>>2 sofa sets
>>2 centre tables
>>A TV unit
>>A shoe rack
>>2 dining tables
>>2 double cots
>>A side table
>>2 showcases
>>A cupboard
>>3 'suspenders'
>>A melamine table top kit A drawer kit,
>>A wooden dining table
>>A low back stool