On January 2, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Commissioner, Dileep Kumar Yadav, was transferred after a diarrhoea outbreak caused multiple deaths. Contaminated drinking water supplied by the IMC was the cause. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav suspended several civic body officials, including Mr. Dileep Yadav. He stated the government “will not tolerate negligence in the incident that occurred in Bhagirathpura, Indore.” The public was angry over delays in fixing old water and sewage pipelines. Despite the crisis, Mr. Dileep Yadav was appointed Deputy Secretary in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department soon after. Then, on January 18, he was made Managing Director of the State Tourism Development Corporation—a top post given the importance of tourism. This happened while 11 patients were still hospitalized. An audit by government doctors reported 15 deaths, but local sources say at least 24 people died. Mr. Yadav became IMC Commissioner in September. Complaints about slow repairs existed before his tenure. But his new posting has raised debate about government action after tragedies. Often, officials facing criticism get transferred or suspended, only to return with higher roles. This raises questions about who is truly accountable. Congress slammed the BJP government for the move. State Congress chief Jitu Patwari wrote on X: “This is not BJP’s good governance, this is a reward system for insensitivity! BJP is not concerned about accountability, BJP is only worried about management and messaging!” Earlier in January 2024, IAS officer Kishore Kanyal was removed as Shajapur collector after a video showed him arguing with protesting truck drivers. He was made Deputy Secretary in the Forest Department the same month and later served as collector in two districts. A former Chief Secretary said this recurring pattern harms the system by avoiding accountability, shifting public focus, and overlooking long-term fixes. Another former Chief Secretary noted quick action helps cool public anger and focus on solutions but stressed that corrective steps must follow. Mr. Yadav’s case fits this pattern of quick transfers seen as damage control by the government. Meanwhile, BJP minister Vijay Shah, facing FIR and Supreme Court orders over bad comments against an Army officer, has faced no action. These events highlight that while officials often bear the brunt of public outrage, political accountability remains unclear.