The Hindu : New Delhi News : Computer purchase scam takes a new turn

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Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Computer purchase scam takes a new turn

Staff Reporter

Case documents made public following RTI intervention

NEW DELHI: Following the order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) last November, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have now agreed to allow access to appellant Sadachari Singh Tomar to the documents pertaining to multi-crore computer purchase scam.

Mr. Tomar, a principal scientist with the ICAR, had earlier approached the CIC when the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) of the departments concerned had initially refused to divulge the information sought on different grounds.

As per the CIC's order, the Appellate Authority of the DAC, Mukesh Khullar, met the CPIOs of the DAC, the ICAR and the CBI on two occasions in December and identified the location of the documents sought by the appellant that were lying with the public authority. A letter mentioning the meeting and the availability of records was sent by the Appellate Authority (DAC) to the CIC on January 4. Mr. Tomar had sought copies of the inquiry report of Pawan Raina, the then Chief Vigilance Officer of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, inquiry report by Bhaskar Barua, the then Secretary (Agriculture and Cooperation), and investigation files of CBI.

The appellant had further sought copies of file notings and other related correspondence that took place between the competent authorities and those who carried out the inquiries into the scam. While the CPIO of the CBI assured the appellant during the meeting that files were available for his inspection, the CPIO ICAR has assured that he would try and locate the paper trail in connection with the inquiry reports.

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