VIGILANCE PANEL SEEKS ACTION ON TOP BABUS, COPS
N. VAMSI SRINIVAS I DC The Vigilance Commission has recommended action against several all-India services officers, including senior cops Tejdeep Kaur Menon and Madan Lal, on charges varying from misappropriation of funds to misuse of office.
The commission also found prima facie evidence of irregularities involving IAS officers and has recommended a thorough inquiry. Action has also been recommended against Indian Forest Service officers and heads of engineering wings.
Official sources told this newspaper that the annual report of the commission submitted by commissioner S.V. Prasad to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan contained startling revelations about the conduct of government officers.
A city-based couple had moved the National Human Rights Commission accusing Ms Menon, additional DGP, of assaulting them. The NHRC had ordered payment of compensation of `4 lakh, which the government paid from the Police Welfare Fund. The Vigilance Commission says the amount should be recovered from the officer.
The Vigilance Commission recommended action against senior cop Madan Lal, who retired from service on April 30 as additional DGP. “The government can frame charges even after the retirement of the official,” sources said.
The commission has recommended a full-fledged investigation into decisions take by tribal welfare principal secretary Vidyasagar regarding the sale of various commodities by the Girijan Cooperative Corporation.
The commission faced a peculiar situation, wherein two IAS officers — youth affairs secretary Luv Agarwal and labour commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu — petitioned it against each other alleging corrupt practices. The commission recommended that government order a probe into these allegations.
The commission did not receive the file relating to GHMC special commissioner Navin Mittal as the government has initiated an inquiry. The V-C also dropped charges against retired IAS official D.C. Rosaiah.
Significantly, the government has agreed to place the previous annual reports of the commission before the state Assembly. It had avoided doing so because it has to explain the reasons for not acting on its recommendations.
Sources said the number of cases that figured in the report this year is more than the previous year. A majority of cases — as many as 1,000 — have been booked by the ACB against excise officials.