Probe against ED officer gets apex court approval
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the government to probe into allegations against a top Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who is probing the high-profile 2G and Aircel-Maxis case.
The allegations against Enforcement Directorate additional director Rajeshwar Singh were mentioned in a report submitted before the top court in a sealed envelope on Wednesday.
A vacation bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul also modified their earlier order that interjected the government from proceeding or interfering in Singh’s work.
Taking note that the chargesheet has already been filed in the Aircel-Maxis case, the court said it was up to the government to take a call whether Singh was further required in the trial or investigation.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had said that issues related to the 2G spectrum case were “highly sensitive” and no officer investigating the matter should be “under any cloud” on a plea against an Enforcement Directorate officer probing the Aircel-Maxis case.
Additional solicitor general Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the Centre, told the court that the government was willing to investigate the allegations that Singh amassed disproportionate assets and handed over a communication in a sealed cover to the bench.
The bench, after perusing the documents placed before it in a sealed cover, said sensitive issues were involved in the matter.
“As a matter of fact, when there are allegations, whether right or wrong against you (Singh), it has to be looked into,” the bench said, adding, “The things which have come before us are startling.”
“You are simply an officer. You can’t be given a blanket clean chit. Everybody is accountable. You must be accountable for any action. We need to ensure that you are accountable. We don’t want to damage you or comment against you. There are very serious allegations against you,” the bench told the officer.
The apex court said it would pass an appropriate order in the matter at 2 pm on Wednesday itself.
Rajneesh Kapur, who claims to be an investigative journalist, has filed a petition in the apex court seeking investigation against Singh for allegedly amassing assets which are disproportionate to his known source of income.
Singh has also filed a separate contempt plea against Kapur and has claimed that attempts have been made to scuttle or delay the ongoing probe in the Aircel Maxis case.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has also moved the top court seeking its permission to implead himself as a party in the plea filed by Kapur.
The apex court had on March 12 set a deadline of six months for the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate to complete the investigation into the alleged irregularities in FIPB approval given in the Aircel-Maxis deal case in which former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti have been questioned by probe agencies.
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