Rohtak, March 23 -- The Haryana government has initiated action against 12 officials for recommending a woman, accused of filing at least three false rape cases, for the state's Indira Gandhi Mahila Shakti award, officials said on Saturday.

The 12 officials -- eight from Jind department and four from the women and child development department -- have been named in a charge sheet and the government has issued show cause notices to them, the officials cited above said. The action came two weeks after chief minister Nayab Singh Saini ordered an inquiry against the errant officials.

"The government is also exploring options to take back the award from the woman. Action has been initiated against the officials but their cannot be revealed. T...