New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has rejected a proposal sent by the previous AIADMK Government, seeking compulsory retirement of senior IPS officer S. Ramanathan on corruption charges and for "sending out the deadwood" from service.

The order said: "No independent material has been furnished in the case of Mr. Ramanathan to justify the proposal for his premature retirement either on the ground of inefficiency or lack of integrity." On the disproportionate assets case registered against him, it said: "It appears to be a case of bias and vendetta against Mr. Ramanathan."

Accepting the order, the present Government headed by M. Karunanidhi revoked the suspension of Mr. Ramanathan and posted him as DIG of Armed Police. He has joined duty.

`Disproportionate assets'

A case was registered against Mr. Ramanathan alleging that during the period 1985 to 1994, he had assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. In 2000, the DVAC concluded the probe saying, "No case made out for any disproportionate assets."

In April 2001, he was promoted as DIG. The same year, the case was reopened and, after enquiry, a case was registered against him in July 2002. Even as this was pending, the Government, in November 2002, sought his premature retirement. In March 2003 he was placed under suspension.

The Central Administrative Tribunal quashed the suspension in August 2003. The government went in appeal and the matter is pending before the High Court.

Proposal sent

In April 2005, the State Government sent a proposal to the Centre seeking grant of sanction for prosecution in the disproportionate assets case.

The order passed by the Home Ministry stated that the case was closed in 2001, after a prolonged probe. The comments offered by the State Government on the representation of Mr. Ramanathan were not found to be cogent or based on documentary evidence.

"The proposal for premature retirement of Mr. Ramanathan on these grounds was, as such, not found acceptable. The sequence of events, however, seemed to make it abundantly clear that the proposals of the State Government were based on bias and vendetta against Mr. Ramanathan," the order said, rejecting the proposal. By another order, the Centre rejected the plea for grant of sanction for his prosecution.

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