Amit Kataria, the district magistrate of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, has been issued notice for keeping his dark glasses on while meeting PM Narendra Modi
A Chhattisgarh IAS officer who was served notice for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in casuals and sunglasses, has denied posting an explanation on WhatsApp.
Amit Kataria, the district magistrate of Bastar, was reprimanded on Friday for not wearing a bandgala prescribed by protocol and keeping his dark glasses on when he met PM Modi on an air strip two weeks ago.
In a WhatsApp message that he now denies, Mr Kataria reportedly said, "Bastar is very hot in May with temp above 40s. Wearing bandgala for hours while looking after arrangements is not practical. I was dressed in complete formal dress, blue shirt, black trousers, black leather shoes, not any T shirt or chappals."
The message says that the governor, Chief Minister Raman Singh and other top officials had just come "5min before" from the circuit house "properly" dressed and received PM Modi.
"I was standing and managing for them for many hours in hot sun and was really sweating and eyes burning. Decided not to wear the coat which I had put in my car," the officer reportedly wrote.
The 35-year-old officer, known to be one of the most honest and hard-working in the state, has won strong support on social media and has even inspired a Facebook Page, "Fans of Amit Kataria," where his spotless career has been the talking point.
In a video from Rajgarh in 2012, Mr Kataria can be seen taking on a BJP lawmaker who had objected to the demolition of illegal structures. He is also said to be the driving force behind one of Chhattisgarh's biggest housing projects.