Bengaluru: In a big shocker to the excise minister H Nagesh, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa cancelled the May 9 order of the minister transferring over 200 staff of the department.

According to the sources, Nagesh also recommended the re-classification of the excise districts and the zones. This process too has been stalled by the Chief Minister.

Minister had approved the proposal of dividing the number of existing excise districts in Bengaluru from existing five to eight and existing zones from 16 to 48. Similar exercise was carried out across the state.

Nagesh himself confirmed that the transfer process and the re-classification of the excise zones and districts have been halted by the CM.

“Vested interests misled the CM. I will talk to him and get approval for the order,” he stated.

If sources are to be believed, a group of officers who retired recently are behind the CM’s decision to cancel the transfer orders.