Top government officials, including an Additional Secretary posted in the highest level of the Central government and a former New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) chairman, have come under Central Bureau of Investigation scanner in a corruption case.
Among the suspects are two senior IAS officers of 1980s batches.
Details related to them were found this past week during a CBI search in the office of caterer Rakesh Tiwari at the NDMC’s Palika Services Officers Institute in Chanakyapuri here. CBI officers seized ‘hawala’ transaction records indicating that senior officials were illegally transferring thousands of dollars abroad.
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Roadblock for agency
However, the CBI’s major concern is that a recent amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, introduced ostensibly to protect honest serving and retired government functionaries, will make it difficult for the agency to take forward the probe against these top officials.
The amendment makes it mandatory for probe agencies to take prior approval from competent authority before initiating investigations against public servants.
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One of the suspected officials had earlier been investigated in connection with another case of allegedly causing losses to the exchequer, said an agency source.
The current probe began with lodging of an FIR alleging that Mr. Tiwari, who earlier ran a canteen at the CBI headquarters, had been receiving money through ‘hawala’ from Neeraj Kochar, owner of Mumbai-based Viraj Profiles, to help get information and favours in a disproportionate assets case against an Indian Revenue Service officer. He is also an accused in the case.
The FIR alleges that Mr. Tiwari was in regular contact with certain officers of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch-III. Five officers of the unit, including those belonging to the rank of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspector and Sub-Inspector, have been examined so far to determine identities of those involved.
Crucial seizures
After Mr. Tiwari and Mr. Kochar were arrested for alleged involvement in the conspiracy, the CBI carried out searches on their premises. During the first round, the agency seized ₹2.86 crore.
However, crucial seizures were made from the Chanakyapuri-based NDMC institute’s office occupied by Mr. Tiwari.
“Documents related to hawala transactions involving senior officials were seized, besides 21 luxury watches, ₹80 lakh and jewellery worth ₹1.6 crore from a cupboard in his office,” said an officer.
Mr. Kochar had allegedly sought favours pertaining to the FIR lodged by the CBI on July 26, 2017, against IRS officer Vivek Batra, then posted with Mumbai’s Income Tax Department, and others.
It was alleged that the IRS officer had invested his ill-gotten wealth in Mr. Kochar’s Viraj Profiles.