The Hindu : Other States / Maharashtra News : MPSC scam investigator alleges `interference' by seniors

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Monday, Mar 07, 2005

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MPSC scam investigator alleges `interference' by seniors

MUMBAI, MARCH. 6. An officer probing the multi-crore MPSC answer paper scam has alleged that his superior officers were `interfering' with his work and `obstructing' investigation in order to screen the offenders.

ACP S.B .Pujari, in an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court on February nine, has alleged that DGP P.S. Pasricha of the Anti-Corruption Bureau and ACB Special IGP Anil Dhere had made `false' allegations against the probe conducted by him, allegedly to hold back the facts from the High Court.

The High Court is currently hearing a PIL in connection with the scam.

Pujari has alleged that the probe had come to a halt under Dhere, who is the supervising officer in the case.

The MPSC scam investigating officer further alleged that Dhere's affidavit filed earlier before the HC making some adverse comments about him (Pujari), were "with a view to cause prejudice" and to spoil an earlier report filed by him.

In the affidavit, Pujari also claimed that the MCOCA case filed against him by scam accused Avinash Sanas was based on some official documents allegedly leaked by suspended DCP Pradeep Sawant regarding cancellation of his CBI deputation.

Pujari further claimed that the affidavits filed by Pasricha and Dhere before the High Court, making adverse remarks against his investigation, were `incorrect and false'.

In his report filed on January 19, 2004, Pujary alleged that Dhere was pressuring him to complete the investigation early inspite of more time available with him.

Pujary also claimed that he was prevented from arresting an accused Gyan Chand Verma and that he was not given a free hand to carry out the investigation.

Pasricha, in his affidavit made on December 21, 2004, had made some adverse remarks against Pujary and had also raised questions on the applicability of MCOCA against some of the accused in the case.

Pasricha has cited the report made by the then DG A.K. Agarwal who had looked into the entire matter following Pujary's report filed in January.

According to Pasricha, Agarwal did not find jurisdiction for invoking MCOCA against the accused and found that there was no evidence to indicate the involvement of Verma in the case.

Pasricha also pointed out an earlier instance where Pujary alleged that inspite of getting specific direction from the then advocate general Goolam Vahanvati to arrest Verma, he was prevented from doing so by Dhere.

Pasricha said that former DG K K Kashyap had talked about this to Vahanvati who denied having given any such permission and raised scepticism over the evidence gathered by Pujary against Verma.

Dhere, in his affidavit filed on December 21, 2004, had denied similar allegations and had said that the High Court, in an order passed on July 7, 2004, had expressed satisfaction over the way the investigation was progressing.

He further said that Pujary has failed to point out any specific instance where pressure was used during the investigation.

Pujary, in the later stages of investigation, started proposing actions based on his presumptions and instances and not on the basis of material on record, he said.

He alleged that non-acceptance of his views resulted in "inviting all kinds of allegations by insinuation, misrepresenting or twisting the facts or sometimes even blatant incorrect statement."

He said that the allegations made by Pujary were baseless and also malicious and were made with intention to discredit him.

PTI

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MPSC scam investigator alleges `interference' by seniors