Sources said Sinha would be joining Infrastructure Leasing Financial Services (ILFS) as vice-president in Ranchi, as he belongs to Jharkhand.

He has reportedly been offered a pay package of Rs 50 lakh per year. Sinha is presently posted as Ropar Deputy Commissioner, and before this assignment he was Additional Secretary, Housing and Urban Development.

A senior officer said, "He had sent his resignation to the state government yesterday."

He is not the first IAS officer from the state to put in his papers. A senior IAS officer of Punjab cadre, Gokul Patnaik, who was of the rank of Financial Commissioner, had resigned a few years back. HB Krishanamurthy, another senior officer who was Secretary, Public Relations, had put in his papers some years back. Both had opted for the private sector.

It's not only the administrative corridors that have suffered brain drain, for the IPS officers have also walked out for greener pastures. Notably, IPS officer of 1983 batch Abrahim Mathai went on a foreign assignment and never returned. His services were terminated by the Ministry of Home Affairs about two years ago. In 1988, Mathai went on deputation to the Centre and was posted in the SPG. He served there till 1997 and then went on a UN posting to Kosovo, and never returned.

The MHA sent him many letters, but he never replied. An officer said, "A couple of IPS officers of the rank of SSP also want to join the private sector, but are in two minds. The private sector is offering a salary of Rs 5 lakh per month." Many officers said stress and political interference were forcing them to call it quits. Besides, there was no job satisfaction, they said.