The Hindu : National : No decision in IPS officer’s ‘copying’ case

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No decision in IPS officer’s ‘copying’ case

Special Correspondent

Only University Executive Council can take final decision

AHMEDABAD: The alleged copying case against IPS officer Rajnish Rai, involved in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, has taken a new turn with the Gujarat University authorities informing the High Court on Wednesday that no “final” decision had yet been taken on declaring him “failed” in the first year law examination.

The University advocate told the High Court that the University Reforms Committee’s directive to declare him “failed” in all subjects and bar him from appearing in the examinations for a year was only “recommendatory.” The final decision could only be taken by the University Executive Council.

The University counsel said Mr. Rai approaching the High Court against the University was a “premature” move. The court has fixed the next hearing on June 24.

Mr. Rai, as the chief of the Crime Branch, was instrumental in arresting three of his IPS colleagues, including the former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, D.G. Vanzara, in connection with the alleged fake encounter case last year. Mr. Rai was reportedly caught “copying” in the first year LL.B. examinations at a college in Gandhinagar on April 25.

The supervisor allegedly found a ruler on his desk with some notes scribbled on it. His answer papers were taken away but strangely he and two others, who too were allegedly caught copying, were allowed to continue with the examinations after half-an-hour.

Mr. Rai, currently holding the non-descript post of head of the Police Record Bureau, repeatedly claimed that he was being “framed.” The notes on the foot ruler, if any, were written by his six-year-old son and had nothing to do with the LL.B. examination, he had said.

The supervisor claimed that the foot ruler was deposited with the principal. It has been missing since then.

The university authorities, apparently at the behest of Minister of State for Home, Amit Shah, however, went ahead with an investigation into the case. Mr. Rai was summoned before the Reforms Committee on Sunday along with 44 other students caught on various charges of irregularities during the examinations. While no order was issued on Mr. Rai, a University spokesman informed the media that the IPS officer had “failed” and he would now be allowed to re-appear in the examinations only in 2010.

Apprehending that the government, not satisfied after shunting him to the Police Training School, Junagadh, might use the University action as an excuse to suspend him, Mr. Rai approached the High Court demanding that the University be directed to issue a written order specifying the offences and corroborate the charges with evidence.

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