MUMBAI: Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar made an unexpected plea to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday: he urged the CM to make it mandatory for IAS officers as well as their family members to declare their assets and properties.“I have suggested to the CM that IAS officers should place their assets in the public domain. If we (politicians) declare it every year, there is nothing wrong if IAS officers declare their assets,” Mungantiwar told TOI. Mungantiwar’s contention is that when a politician contests an election to the assembly or Lok Sabha, it is mandatory for him to declare not only his own assets but also the assets of his spouse and minor children. It is thus comprehensive information on assets and all types of investments. “They (IAS officers) are also public servants, so people have the right to know their assets,” Mungantiwar said.According to reports, a month ago, when Mungantiwar had sought specific information on the matter from the finance department led by him, the officers were reluctant to oblige. A senior IAS officer who did not wish to be named said, “Our information is that Mungantiwar may have information on undeclared assets of a section of IAS officers. In addition, there is talk that key contracts in certain departments have been secured either by wives or children of senior IAS officers.”Secondly, the officer said, Mungantiwar has been upset over the manner in which specific information on the financial situation of Maharashtra was quietly leaked to the media during the Finance Commission’s recent visit to Maharashtra. “The minister is unhappy with the IAS lobby for selective leakage of information which is causing damage to the image of the BJP-led government in the state,” the officer said.The IAS officer said information on immovable properties of IAS officers is available on the website of the department of personnel and training, but there is no information on investments of family members. “A large number of officers have multiple houses in Maharashtra, land for which was given by the revenue department at a nominal rate. Huge rents from these flats is the main source of income of IAS officers. In fact, the income of some of the officers from rent earned is much more than their annual salary,” he said.