Central Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Director Su. Arunachalam, who is heading the agency’s anti-corruption, economic offences and special crimes branches in the Southern States, has written to the CBI Director seeking to relieve him of his responsibilities as the State refused to extend his deputation.
This is the second time that the 1983-batch IPS officer has sought to be relieved from the Central agency on similar grounds.
While an IPS officer on deputation is allowed to stay on for seven years in the CBI, the parent cadre’s (the State government) approval is sought for extension on the completion of the fifth year.
In the case of Mr. Arunachalam, who is in the rank of an Inspector-General of Police, police sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs had written to the Tamil Nadu government in February 2015 seeking approval to extend his deputation for two years. Awaiting response, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and the Central Vigilance Commission approved his tenure till June 30, 2015.
In the meantime, the State government replied to the MHA refusing to spare the services of the officer for deputation. A copy of the communication was also marked to the Joint Director. Despite the officer writing to the CBI headquarters that he should be relieved since the State government had not given consent to his extension, the Government of India insisted that he continued till an alternative arrangement was made.
Mr. Arunachalam is handling quite a few sensational cases including the corruption case against Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of Y.S. Rajasekar Reddy, late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh; the illegal mining scam in Bellary involving former Karnataka Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, and the case of importing luxury cars by allegedly evading pre/post import duty.
Anticipating a relieving order from the CBI headquarters, the Joint Director handed over charge of Hyderabad Branch to a DIG on Sunday. “I do not want to continue since the State government has not approved my extension. I have written twice to the headquarters to relieve me. I am going to New Delhi on Monday to brief my superiors of the updates in some cases…I hope to be relieved after that,” Mr. Arunachalam told The Hindu .
Centre-State disagreement over deputation of IPS officers is not uncommon. Archana Ramasundaram, a 1980-batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was placed under suspension on charges of “deserting office,” barely hours after the official was virtually summoned by the Centre to take charge “immediately” as CBI’s Additional Director two years ago. After prolonged legal proceedings, the suspension was withdrawn and the official is presently the Director of National Crime Records Bureau.
The general norm is that at least 30 per cent of IPS officers in a State can go on deputation to Government of India assignments. In Tamil Nadu, there are hardly a dozen, police sources added.
Another senior IPS officer in CBI’s Special Crimes Branch in Chennai belonging to the Rajasthan cadre is also continuing in his post even after his State government refused to extend his tenure on deputation. Though the officer sought to get relieved, the CBI headquarters wanted him to continue, the sources added.
He is handling high profile cases including Bellary mining scam
