News Analysis India

Tag: corruption

  • J-K govt orders premature retirement of 36 police personnel 

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered premature retirement of 36 police personnel for their alleged involvement in corruption, underperformance and anti-social activities.

    “In its endeavour to make the police department more efficient and transparent, the government today prematurely retired 36 police personnel on charges of their involvement in corruption and criminal activities,” an official spokesman said.

    He said these personnel conducted their duties in ways which were unbecoming of public servants and in violation of the established code of conduct.

    “The exercise was conducted as part of regular process of scrutiny of records of officials, who cross benchmarks of age/service period in terms of Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs.

    “These employees were found involved in illegal activities, remained unauthorisedly absent from duties for a considerable period, underperformed, penalized in departmental enquiries and some of them found involved in corruption cases, facing serious criminal charges, and had doubtful integrity,” the spokesman said.

    According to the recommendations of the Review Committee, the performance of these employees was found non-satisfactory and their continuation in the government service was found against the public interest, he said.

    During the recent past, as part of its zero tolerance policy towards corruption, various employees have been dismissed from service on account of official misconduct, after rigourously following departmental proceedings against them, while as many cases are under scrutiny with the Empowered Committees constituted for consideration of cases under Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs, he said.

    The spokesman said many employees have also been terminated from service on account of anti-national activities.

    Meanwhile, the government has also initiated several measures for human resource development of its employees in Jammu and Kashmir which includes online Human Resource Management System (eHRMS), induction of officers into the prestigious Indian Administrative/ Police Service, conduction of timely DPCs for smooth career progression, updating recruitment rules, fast tracking the recruitment process through recruiting agencies and abolishing of interviews for most of the non-gazetted vacancies referred to the Services Selection Board, the spokesman said.

    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered premature retirement of 36 police personnel for their alleged involvement in corruption, underperformance and anti-social activities.

    “In its endeavour to make the police department more efficient and transparent, the government today prematurely retired 36 police personnel on charges of their involvement in corruption and criminal activities,” an official spokesman said.

    He said these personnel conducted their duties in ways which were unbecoming of public servants and in violation of the established code of conduct.

    “The exercise was conducted as part of regular process of scrutiny of records of officials, who cross benchmarks of age/service period in terms of Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs.

    “These employees were found involved in illegal activities, remained unauthorisedly absent from duties for a considerable period, underperformed, penalized in departmental enquiries and some of them found involved in corruption cases, facing serious criminal charges, and had doubtful integrity,” the spokesman said.

    According to the recommendations of the Review Committee, the performance of these employees was found non-satisfactory and their continuation in the government service was found against the public interest, he said.

    During the recent past, as part of its zero tolerance policy towards corruption, various employees have been dismissed from service on account of official misconduct, after rigourously following departmental proceedings against them, while as many cases are under scrutiny with the Empowered Committees constituted for consideration of cases under Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs, he said.

    The spokesman said many employees have also been terminated from service on account of anti-national activities.

    Meanwhile, the government has also initiated several measures for human resource development of its employees in Jammu and Kashmir which includes online Human Resource Management System (eHRMS), induction of officers into the prestigious Indian Administrative/ Police Service, conduction of timely DPCs for smooth career progression, updating recruitment rules, fast tracking the recruitment process through recruiting agencies and abolishing of interviews for most of the non-gazetted vacancies referred to the Services Selection Board, the spokesman said.

  • Bombay HC grants bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in ED case

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money laundering case. Justice N J Jamadar pronounced the order.

    Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the HC to hear and decide the NCP leader’s plea expeditiously as it was pending for six months.

    His lawyers Vikram Chaudhari and Aniket Nikam argued that considering his age (72), health and the fact that he had no criminal antecedents he should be granted bail.

    Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the application arguing that Deshmukh did not suffer from any ailments that cannot be treated at the jail hospital.

    Arrested by the ED in November 2021, Deshmukh is now in judicial custody.

    The ED booked him after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against him following allegations made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    The ED claimed that Deshmukh misused his official position and collected Rs 4.7 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

    The ill-gotten money was channelled to Nagpur-based Shri Sai Shikshan Sansthan, an educational trust controlled by his family, it alleged.

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money laundering case. Justice N J Jamadar pronounced the order.

    Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the HC to hear and decide the NCP leader’s plea expeditiously as it was pending for six months.

    His lawyers Vikram Chaudhari and Aniket Nikam argued that considering his age (72), health and the fact that he had no criminal antecedents he should be granted bail.

    Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the application arguing that Deshmukh did not suffer from any ailments that cannot be treated at the jail hospital.

    Arrested by the ED in November 2021, Deshmukh is now in judicial custody.

    The ED booked him after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against him following allegations made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    The ED claimed that Deshmukh misused his official position and collected Rs 4.7 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

    The ill-gotten money was channelled to Nagpur-based Shri Sai Shikshan Sansthan, an educational trust controlled by his family, it alleged.

  • Bihar CM Nitish takes a jibe on Modi over corruption

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday indirectly targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi while responding to the latter’s allegation of corruption on Opposition parties. On Modi’s allegation that some political parties had come out in the open to protect the corrupt, Nitish, without naming the PM, told media persons on Friday, “Why should anybody protect the corrupt? Why is he not speaking about what is happening in other states? We have never compromised over the corrupt for so long in Bihar. They can say whatever they wish to. I don’t have to respond.”

    “When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, I had the opportunity to work with him. He had taken care of everybody. People at the Centre can say anything, I am really not concerned about it,” the Chief Minister said, adding that he was primarily focused on the development of Bihar.

    Modi had remarked in Kerala the other day that “as action is being taken against the corrupt, a new polarisation of political forces is happening in the country”, and “some political parties have come out in the open to put up a combined resistance to protect the corrupt”.

    “Who is shielding the corrupt? Would anybody ever think of doing so? There are, however, many developments in various states, of people going from here to there, which all know but about which I do not wish to say much,” said Kumar. Rubbishing Modi’s claim that Opposition parties were going into a huddle rattled at the Centre’s crackdown on corruption, Kumar also sought to remind the former that in many states the BJP has ended up aligning with those whom it had previously accused of wrongdoings. Kumar spoke on corruption on the sidelines of a function where his deputy Tejashwi Yadav was also present and the RJD leader, who finds himself and family members in many legal wrangles, chose to be more upfront.

    Nitish asserted that he had been working for the state’s progress ever since he was given an opportunity to serve the state. “Hum log nyay ke saath sab ka vikas karna chahte hain aur bina koi bhed bhav ke (We want to provide justice to people and bring about changes in their lives without discrimination),” he told the media after paying tributes to former CM, Daroga Prasad Rai, on the latter’s death anniversary.

    Deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “There are more than 1000 MLAs and over 300 MPs from BJP. No raid has been conducted against any of them during the last eight years. Are all of them clean? And if no raid has been conducted, who is protecting them? Those who are making fake claims of making attempts to eradicate corruption are protecting them.”

    On the other hand, former deputy chief minister and BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi took a dig at Nitish for not dismissing RJD minister Sudhakar Singh from the cabinet when his name had figured in the rice scam. Was Nitish avoiding action against Sudhakar as he is the son of Bihar RJD president Jagdanand Singh, he asked.

    ‘BJP aligning with parties involved in wrongdoings’ 

    Rubbishing Modi’s claim that Opposition parties were going into a huddle rattled at the Centre’s crackdown on corruption, Kumar also sought to remind the former that in many states the BJP has ended up aligning with those whom it had previously accused of wrongdoings

    PATNA:  Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday indirectly targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi while responding to the latter’s allegation of corruption on Opposition parties. On Modi’s allegation that some political parties had come out in the open to protect the corrupt, Nitish, without naming the PM, told media persons on Friday, “Why should anybody protect the corrupt? Why is he not speaking about what is happening in other states? We have never compromised over the corrupt for so long in Bihar. They can say whatever they wish to. I don’t have to respond.”

    “When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, I had the opportunity to work with him. He had taken care of everybody. People at the Centre can say anything, I am really not concerned about it,” the Chief Minister said, adding that he was primarily focused on the development of Bihar.

    Modi had remarked in Kerala the other day that “as action is being taken against the corrupt, a new polarisation of political forces is happening in the country”, and “some political parties have come out in the open to put up a combined resistance to protect the corrupt”.

    “Who is shielding the corrupt? Would anybody ever think of doing so? There are, however, many developments in various states, of people going from here to there, which all know but about which I do not wish to say much,” said Kumar. Rubbishing Modi’s claim that Opposition parties were going into a huddle rattled at the Centre’s crackdown on corruption, Kumar also sought to remind the former that in many states the BJP has ended up aligning with those whom it had previously accused of wrongdoings. Kumar spoke on corruption on the sidelines of a function where his deputy Tejashwi Yadav was also present and the RJD leader, who finds himself and family members in many legal wrangles, chose to be more upfront.

    Nitish asserted that he had been working for the state’s progress ever since he was given an opportunity to serve the state. “Hum log nyay ke saath sab ka vikas karna chahte hain aur bina koi bhed bhav ke (We want to provide justice to people and bring about changes in their lives without discrimination),” he told the media after paying tributes to former CM, Daroga Prasad Rai, on the latter’s death anniversary.

    Deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “There are more than 1000 MLAs and over 300 MPs from BJP. No raid has been conducted against any of them during the last eight years. Are all of them clean? And if no raid has been conducted, who is protecting them? Those who are making fake claims of making attempts to eradicate corruption are protecting them.”

    On the other hand, former deputy chief minister and BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi took a dig at Nitish for not dismissing RJD minister Sudhakar Singh from the cabinet when his name had figured in the rice scam. Was Nitish avoiding action against Sudhakar as he is the son of Bihar RJD president Jagdanand Singh, he asked.

    ‘BJP aligning with parties involved in wrongdoings’ 

    Rubbishing Modi’s claim that Opposition parties were going into a huddle rattled at the Centre’s crackdown on corruption, Kumar also sought to remind the former that in many states the BJP 
    has ended up aligning with those whom it had previously accused of wrongdoings

  • ‘Savukku’ Shankar says he stands by his statement on ‘higher judiciary riddled with corruption’

    By Express News Service

    MADURAI: Stating that the entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption, YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar said he stands by his statement.

    Appearing before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in the suo motu contempt proceedings initiated against him for his controversial remarks against the judiciary, ‘Savukku’ Shankar said he stands by his statement and sought time to file a reply. 

    The YouTuber, in an interview for a YouTube channel on July 2022 had reportedly stated that the entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption referring to a judgment passed by Justice Swaminathan, in quashing an FIR registered against YouTuber Maridhas in February 2022.

    Following this, a special bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and B Pugalendhi issued a show cause notice to him last month as to why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. 

    “He asks me ‘who I met at 6 am at Azhagar Koil when I was hearing the case pertaining to Maridhas?’ By this innuendo, Shankar is suggesting that the outcome of the Maridhas case was influenced by the person I am alleged to have met. This is clearly scandalising the judiciary,” the judge had criticised in a reply to Shankar.  

    When the special bench heard the matter again on Thursday, the judges asked if he would like to engage a counsel to argue the case, but ‘Savukku’ Shankar replied that he would argue the case himself as no advocate would be willing to take on the court. However, when asked if he wanted the court to appoint a counsel through legal aid authority, he named a senior counsel whom he wished to engage to argue the case on his behalf. 

    As per request, the judges granted him time to file a counter affidavit and adjourned the case to September 8. 

    It is to be noted that Shankar is a suspended employee of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and is receiving a subsistence allowance from the government. 

    MADURAI: Stating that the entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption, YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar said he stands by his statement.

    Appearing before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in the suo motu contempt proceedings initiated against him for his controversial remarks against the judiciary, ‘Savukku’ Shankar said he stands by his statement and sought time to file a reply. 

    The YouTuber, in an interview for a YouTube channel on July 2022 had reportedly stated that the entire higher judiciary is riddled with corruption referring to a judgment passed by Justice Swaminathan, in quashing an FIR registered against YouTuber Maridhas in February 2022.

    Following this, a special bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and B Pugalendhi issued a show cause notice to him last month as to why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. 

    “He asks me ‘who I met at 6 am at Azhagar Koil when I was hearing the case pertaining to Maridhas?’ By this innuendo, Shankar is suggesting that the outcome of the Maridhas case was influenced by the person I am alleged to have met. This is clearly scandalising the judiciary,” the judge had criticised in a reply to Shankar.  

    When the special bench heard the matter again on Thursday, the judges asked if he would like to engage a counsel to argue the case, but ‘Savukku’ Shankar replied that he would argue the case himself as no advocate would be willing to take on the court. However, when asked if he wanted the court to appoint a counsel through legal aid authority, he named a senior counsel whom he wished to engage to argue the case on his behalf. 

    As per request, the judges granted him time to file a counter affidavit and adjourned the case to September 8. 

    It is to be noted that Shankar is a suspended employee of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and is receiving a subsistence allowance from the government. 

  • BJP branding everyone as thieves, using central agencies to dislodge elected state govts: Mamata

    By Agencies

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the central agencies and “ill-gotten money of the BJP” are being used to dislodge elected state governments run by parties that are opposed to the saffron camp. Amid corruption charges against the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government in West Bengal, the party supremo challenged the BJP to arrest her if they can.

    Addressing a rally of her party’s student wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee said a malicious campaign has been unleashed against senior TMC leaders, including her, Firhad Hakim (popularly known as Bobby) and Abhishek Banerjee. ““The BJP is branding everybody as thieves. They are campaigning in a way as if all of us in the TMC are thieves and only the BJP and its leaders are holy,”” she said.

    “They (BJP) are talking about the money with TMC leaders. From where is the BJP getting thousands of crores to dislodge elected state governments in line of the Maharashtra model. The BJP is parking money abroad through hawala. The BJP has to be defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,”” the chief minister vowed.

    SPECIAL REPORT | Partha Chatterjee, Arpita Mukherjee and West Bengal’s schools of scandal

    Our student community represents courage and valour – they shall continue to fight evil forces with an indomitable spirit.We will fight, we will win and WE WILL OUST @BJP4India! pic.twitter.com/lyxP1l5LXS
    — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 29, 2022
    She was apprehensive that the onslaught against Hakim might happen any time.

    “The ED raids at the residence of Partha Chatterjee happened just a day after our historic Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 this year. And now after this rally, tomorrow ED or CBI might be at Bobby’s doorsteps. In the case of Partha Chatterjee, I do not have anything to say. But remember if the same thing happens with Bobby, it will be a totally conspired move,” the chief minister said.

    “If Bobby is arrested, you can rest assured it will be a fake case, just to harass him,”” “she added.

    She also expressed similar apprehension regarding her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. “He has given a fiery speech here. Who can say that he and his wife will not receive a central agency notice tomorrow. This time if they summon him and his wife, I will ask them to take their two-year-old kid along with them to the agency office,” she said.

    ALSO READ | Caging two birds with one festival: With Durga Puja doles, Mamata moves to corner BJP

    The chief minister also admitted that there had been some irregularities in the teacher’s recruitment during her time as the chief minister of West Bengal. “But the complaints of irregularities are limited compared to the huge teachers’ appointments taking place in the last ten years. However, we would have rectified the mistakes had we given a chance to that. But unfortunately, we did not get that chance,” the chief minister said.

    “Had I not been the chief minister I would have asked my female party colleagues to slit out the tongues of those who are resorting to constant slander against us concerning the irregularities,” the chief minister said.

    Referring to the recent incident of the alleged rape of a woman at the India-Bangladesh border by BSF jawans, she wondered whether such an incident happened due to the Centre’s decision to broaden the paramilitary force’s jurisdiction from 15km to 50km in bordering areas.

    ““The BJP talks about ‘Beti Bachao’ and ‘Beti Padhao’ and its government released those involved in Bilkis Bano case. Is this justice? We will organise 48-hour long dharna here in Kolkata to press for action against the accused,”” she added.

    READ HERE | Cattle smuggling racket that TMC’s Anubrata Mondal was involved in had a deep nexus

    Speaking on the occasion, Abhishek Banerjee attacked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah for the alleged refusal to hold the Tricolour during the India-Pakistan match on Sunday. “Either Amit Shah should announce Jay Sah as his prodigal son or he should resign from the post of Union home minister. I am surprised that such people try to teach us about the spirit of patriotism,” he said.

    (With PTI and ANI inputs)

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the central agencies and “ill-gotten money of the BJP” are being used to dislodge elected state governments run by parties that are opposed to the saffron camp. Amid corruption charges against the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government in West Bengal, the party supremo challenged the BJP to arrest her if they can.

    Addressing a rally of her party’s student wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee said a malicious campaign has been unleashed against senior TMC leaders, including her, Firhad Hakim (popularly known as Bobby) and Abhishek Banerjee. ““The BJP is branding everybody as thieves. They are campaigning in a way as if all of us in the TMC are thieves and only the BJP and its leaders are holy,”” she said.

    “They (BJP) are talking about the money with TMC leaders. From where is the BJP getting thousands of crores to dislodge elected state governments in line of the Maharashtra model. The BJP is parking money abroad through hawala. The BJP has to be defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,”” the chief minister vowed.

    SPECIAL REPORT | Partha Chatterjee, Arpita Mukherjee and West Bengal’s schools of scandal

    Our student community represents courage and valour – they shall continue to fight evil forces with an indomitable spirit.
    We will fight, we will win and WE WILL OUST @BJP4India! pic.twitter.com/lyxP1l5LXS
    — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 29, 2022
    She was apprehensive that the onslaught against Hakim might happen any time.

    “The ED raids at the residence of Partha Chatterjee happened just a day after our historic Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 this year. And now after this rally, tomorrow ED or CBI might be at Bobby’s doorsteps. In the case of Partha Chatterjee, I do not have anything to say. But remember if the same thing happens with Bobby, it will be a totally conspired move,” the chief minister said.

    “If Bobby is arrested, you can rest assured it will be a fake case, just to harass him,”” “she added.

    She also expressed similar apprehension regarding her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. “He has given a fiery speech here. Who can say that he and his wife will not receive a central agency notice tomorrow. This time if they summon him and his wife, I will ask them to take their two-year-old kid along with them to the agency office,” she said.

    ALSO READ | Caging two birds with one festival: With Durga Puja doles, Mamata moves to corner BJP

    The chief minister also admitted that there had been some irregularities in the teacher’s recruitment during her time as the chief minister of West Bengal. “But the complaints of irregularities are limited compared to the huge teachers’ appointments taking place in the last ten years. However, we would have rectified the mistakes had we given a chance to that. But unfortunately, we did not get that chance,” the chief minister said.

    “Had I not been the chief minister I would have asked my female party colleagues to slit out the tongues of those who are resorting to constant slander against us concerning the irregularities,” the chief minister said.

    Referring to the recent incident of the alleged rape of a woman at the India-Bangladesh border by BSF jawans, she wondered whether such an incident happened due to the Centre’s decision to broaden the paramilitary force’s jurisdiction from 15km to 50km in bordering areas.

    ““The BJP talks about ‘Beti Bachao’ and ‘Beti Padhao’ and its government released those involved in Bilkis Bano case. Is this justice? We will organise 48-hour long dharna here in Kolkata to press for action against the accused,”” she added.

    READ HERE | Cattle smuggling racket that TMC’s Anubrata Mondal was involved in had a deep nexus

    Speaking on the occasion, Abhishek Banerjee attacked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah for the alleged refusal to hold the Tricolour during the India-Pakistan match on Sunday. “Either Amit Shah should announce Jay Sah as his prodigal son or he should resign from the post of Union home minister. I am surprised that such people try to teach us about the spirit of patriotism,” he said.

    (With PTI and ANI inputs)

  • Tender graft: Furnish inquiry report’s copy to Velumani, SC tells Madras HC 

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Madras High Court to supply a copy of report of preliminary enquiry conducted against S P Velumani over alleged corruption in awarding of tenders in corporations during his tenure as Tamil Nadu minister for municipal administration, and asked the HC to dispose of the cases on merit, uninfluenced by any observation made by it. 

    “In our considered opinion, the HC has committed a patent error. Without considering the material before it, and by merely relying on the submissions made by the State, the HC has made sweeping observations which are prejudicial to the appellant,” the court said.

    “It was the HC which had ordered that a preliminary inquiry be conducted and a report be submitted by the special investigating officer. However, once the inquiry was completed, the HC failed to even peruse the report. Rather, the HC left the decision completely in the hands of the State government. Such an approach cannot be countenanced in law. When the State changed its stand, the HC neither provided the appellant an opportunity to defend himself, nor sought a reasoned justification from the State for having turned turtle,” the apex court said. 

    According to Velumani’s plea, a a PIL was filed before the Madras High Court in 2018 for a direction that an FIR be lodged and an investigation be conducted relating to tenders awarded by municipal corporations.  It was alleged that Velumani had misused his powers and the tenders were awarded to his close aides. The HC had directed an enquiry, though there was no offence made against him, he said. 

  • Chhattisgarh minister seeks action to check collector’s alleged corrupt practices

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: As the Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel not hesitating to take prompt strict action on complaints received against corrupt-negligent officers during his ongoing statewide “Bhet-Mulakat” tour, his cabinet colleague has levelled serious charges against the collector of Korba, one of the highest contributor districts of DMF fund, citing her as “corrupt officer, grossly misusing the public fund”.State Revenue, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation minister Jaisingh Agrawal in his complaint had claimed the Korba collector Ranu Sahu as involved in massive corruption through her unilateral non-transparent decisions leading to embezzlement of public (DMF) funds.

    Agrawal has shot a letter highlighting his objections to the Secretary and Nodal officer of the state mining department and DMF seeking his urgent intervention in postponing the upcoming DMF committee meeting called by the collector and “stop further misuse of public money”.

    Korba, supplying 16 percent of the total coal production of the country and more than the Jharkhand state, is the largest contributor to the DMF kitty with several hundred crores annually.

    “The collector is sanctioning works from the DMF fund as per her own wishes that doesn’t serve the public interest. Prevent the misuse of public money and initiate appropriate action. There is no transparency regarding the information that needed to be shared on the public domain regarding the approved works allotted by the DMF committee in Korba”, alleged Agrawal.The minister categorically asserted that the lack of any action by the Secretary will equally suggest his silent consent to the squandering of crores of rupees to the state through embezzlement in the allotted works under the DMF scheme.The collector couldn’t be reached despite repeated attempts nor did she respond to the message texted to her seeking the reaction.The opposition BJP nevertheless grasped the minister’s complaint to target the state government. “We have brought the issue of massive irregularities in utilisation of DMF funds in Korba district to the knowledge of the Prime Minister Office, home minister and DoPT urging them to intervene for putting things right. It’s shocking to find the state minister had not just exposed the dishonest practices of the collector but also how corruption ruled the roost in bureaucracy”, said Naresh Gupta, BJP legal cell in charge.

  • ITBP recommends service termination of DIG who asked unarmed personnel to transport teak wood in Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has proposed the termination from the service of a DIG rank officer for his “involvement in corrupt practices” while deployed in a combat zone on anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh.

    It was late night on 12 December last year, when an ITBP lorry, carrying Teak (Sagwan) woods in big numbers, was obstructed by the villagers of Totalbharri in Maoist-affected Rajnandgaon district, about 120 km west of Raipur.

    The police and the forest officials the same night confiscated the wooden logs, seized the truck, registered a case and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on ITBP party onboard the vehicle.

    ITBP promptly took cognisance of the incident, ordered ‘Court of Inquiry’ to investigate the circumstances on using the lorry to “illegally” transport the Teak logs.

    Preliminary observation cited the involvement of DIG Chota Ram Jat who was then in charge of 44th battalion ITBP in Rajnandgaon to oversee the operations against outlawed CPI (Maoist). The DIG was then officially transferred to Leh on 28 December citing administrative reasons.

    As per the detail accessed by The New Indian Express, the ‘Court of Inquiry’ examined 36 witnesses. The internal probe indicted the DIG who placed orders sending five ITBP personnel including the driver without weapons on a truck to Totalbarri to “illegally” carry out loading, transporting of Teak wood. 

    “ITBP DIG Chota Ram Jat has compromised the security of ITBP personnel sending them to the Maoists-Affected area without proper security, violate laid down procedure on the movement of troops in such sensitive region and didn’t inform his higher authority. He misused his official position as DIG (anti-Maoist operations) and indulged in grave misconduct involving himself in illegal activities—illegally procured and transporting prohibited Teak wood in ITBP vehicle”, stated the inquiry documents.

    “We stand for zero tolerance against the unethical or corrupt practices”, said Vivek Pandey, ITBP public relations officer. 

    Owing to serious misconduct by the DIG, the ITBP rendered him as “undesirable for further retention in the service as he failed to perform with due integrity and devotion”.

    While recommending the termination of his services Jat has been served with a show-cause notice to submit his explanation.

    The environmentalists appreciated the speedy action initiated by ITBP.

    “There have been huge pending cases on illegal tree felling, smuggling of forest wood, wildlife poaching lying for the past 15-20 years but with little action taken. The ITBP did a commendable job taking a firm decision within nine months. They have indeed done a climate justice”, averred Nitin Singhvi, a nature lover.

  • SC terms politicians-police nexus as new trend in country, asks why it should protect such officers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Terming alleged nexus between politicians in power and the police officers as the “new trend” in the country, the Supreme Court Monday orally questioned as to why it should protect such police officers in criminal cases after the regime change.

    The observations of the bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana came on an appeal of Gurjinder Pal Singh, suspended Director of Chhattisgarh Police Academy, who has rushed to the top court seeking protection from coercive action after the Congress-led state government lodged the third FIR against him for an incident that had taken place in 2016.

    The bench, which sought response of the state government and protected him from any coercive action concerning the third FIR for three weeks, took note of the submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the suspended police officer, and said the proximity with the power leads to a situation, being faced by the petitioner when others come at the helm.

    “This is what happens when you are so close to the government and do these things. You have to pay back one day with the interest. When you are good with the government, you extract money, when another government comes you have to pay back.”

    “This is too much, why should we grant protection to such officers. This is a new trend in the country. He should go to jail, why should the court protect these kinds of officers,” the bench said.

    “You are responsible for all this nonsense. You go, surrender and get the regular bail,” said the bench, which also comprised justices,Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, at the outset.

    The senior advocate said the officers, who are honest and upright and have outstanding service records, needed to be protected and Singh is one of them against whom as many as three FIRs have been lodged by the government.

    The fresh plea has been filed seeking protection from coercive action in an FIR lodged on July 28 this year for offences of extortion, criminal intimidation under the IPC on the complaint of one Kamal Kumar Sen concerning an alleged incident of 2016.

    The court has now posted the plea of Singh for further hearing in the first week of October and directed the apex court registry to list his earlier two pleas as well together for hearing.

    Gurjinder Pal Singh, the 1994-batch IPS officer who had served as the IG of Raipur, Durg, and Bilaspur during the earlier BJP rule, has been facing probe in as many as three criminal cases.

    The top court, on August 26 this year, had granted Singh the protection from two criminal cases of sedition and amassing of disproportionate assets.

    It had termed as a “disturbing trend” the filing of sedition cases in the country against political opponents after the regime change.

    Singh was initially booked in the disproportionate assets case following raids at his premises by the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

    Another case of sedition was invoked against him later on the grounds of his alleged involvement in promoting enmity and hatching a conspiracy against the government.

    The state government is represented by lawyer Sumeer Sodhi.

    According to the police, the documents recovered during the ACB/EOW raids revealed that Singh was allegedly involved in promoting enmity and hatching a conspiracy against the established government and public representatives and was booked under sedition charges.

    Singh was booked under IPC sections 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) of the IPC at Raipur’s City Kotwali Police Station.

    He has sought the case be handed over to the CBI or other independent agencies to ensure a fair probe.

    The director of the state police academy was suspended on July 5 after the ACB/EOW, on June 29, registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the disproportionate assets he had allegedly amassed.

    The ACB/EOW, which carried a three-day search at around 15 locations linked to Singh from July 1 to 3, claimed to have discovered movable and immovable assets worth around Rs 10 crore.

    During the raid at the official residence of Singh, torn pieces of paper were also found from the backyard of the house.

    When the pieces were rearranged, serious and sensitive contents were found to be written and typed on it, the FIR said.

    “These papers contained objectionable comments against leaders of reputed political parties along with detailed plans of conspiracy. Besides, secret assessments related to representatives and candidates of different assembly constituencies along with comments on serious issues of the concerned area were also written. The papers contained critical comments on several government schemes, policies, social and religious issues”, it said.

  • Inordinate, inexplicable delay in prosecution of UPA era corruption cases: Subramanian Swamy writes to PM

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: There is an “inordinate and inexplicable” delay in prosecution of many corruption cases that took place during the UPA tenure, Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy has said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Swamy also said that there is an “induced lack of enthusiasm” of prosecutors in these cases.

    “There is, without doubt, an inordinate and inexplicable delay in prosecution of many corruption cases by the government, which corruption had happened at the UPA tenure at the Centre,” he said in the letter.

    Specifically mentioning 2G scam, Aircel-Maxis and National Herald cases, involving senior Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi, he said there has not been a finality or conviction in these cases.

    “In the past seven years, there has not been a finality or conviction in these cases which is clearly due to the induced lack of enthusiasm of the prosecutors…,” Swamy said.

    He said these delays are hurting the image of the BJP which made fighting corruption a key plank of election campaigns.

    “I am most respectfully urging you to give immediate directions to agency heads, legal officers and prosecutors to sit together, if necessary, and work in coordination and to monitor the progress of cases at regular intervals,” Swamy said.

    He further suggested that an inter-departmental monitoring body can be formed, which works on a regular basis, comprising agency heads and prosecutors to ensure that the anti-corruption cases are pursued diligently.