In a move that could affect several high-profile officers, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has expedited cases relating to disproportionate assets and corruption registered against Indian Police Service (IPS) officers that have been pending for over 10 years, a senior government official told The Hindu.
The decision is likely to have the biggest impact in Tripura, as the state Director General of Police (DGP) K. Nagraj, who was handpicked by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in 2014, has a disproportionate assets case pending against him in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In 2005, the probe agency had registered a case against the 1983 batch IPS officer of the Manipur-Tripura cadre for allegedly amassing property to the tune of Rs. 1.07 crore, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The case was registered by the CBI in 2007 when Mr. Nagraj was posted on Central deputation with the Central Reserve Police Force in Hyderabad. The final verdict has not yet been declared.
ITBP head to probe graft charges against Tripura DGP
Tripura DGP, K Nagraj, handpicked by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in 2014, is among several senior IPS officers being investigated for corruption and disproportionate assets by the CBI, whose cases have been fast tracked by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Home Ministry, the cadre controlling authority of IPS officers, simultaneously carried out disciplinary action proceedings against personnel accused of graft.
The MHA has appointed the DG, Indo-Tibetan Border Police force (ITBP) to conduct the enquiry against Mr. Nagraj and has asked him to submit the report at the earliest.
“It is not only the Tripura DGP’s case; we have expedited other graft cases as well,” the official said. When contacted, Mr. Nagraj said, “I have no comments to make and the details are in public domain. Everything is available with the MHA.”
Other cases
Other officers facing MHA enquiry are 1989 batch IPS officer A. Sudhakar Rao, who was booked by the CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh; Himachal Pradesh cadre officer R.K Singh, who took voluntary retirement in 2009, and Madhya Pradesh cadre officer R.N. Pandey, who is now retired.
“The investigating agencies are doing their job but we have decided to finalise the cases at our end. The Home Minister held a review meeting a few days ago and he asked for a compliance report soon,” said the official.
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