SC lets govt probe DA charges against Aircel-Maxis probe official
27 Jun 2018
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The Supreme Court has allowed the government to investigate charges of disproportionate assets (DA) against Rajeshwar Singh, the senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) official who probed the Aircel-Maxis and 2G spectrum cases.
While diluting the blanket protection from inquiry against the ED official, the apex court cited a government affidavit which said it does not want to protect anyone who is guilty, no matter how high their official position might be.
The SC also said that since the allegations are serious and as the 2G case is a sensitive one, the ED official probing it should not be above doubt.
The centre also said that it would take the Aircel-Maxis probe to its logical conclusion.
Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the government, told the court that the government was willing to investigate the allegations that Rajeshwar had amassed disproportionate assets and handed over a communication in a sealed cover to the bench.
The SC bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Sanjay K Kaul said the sealed-cover contains allegations against the ED official Rajeshwar involves national security issues and that an ED officer cannot be given immunity just because he had a blanket protection while probing the 2G scam and the Aircel-Maxis case.
"As a matter of fact, when there are allegations, whether right or wrong against you (Rajeshwar) it has to be looked into," the bench said, adding "the things which have come before us are startling."
"You are simply an officer. You can't be given a blanket clean chit. Everybody is accountable. You must be accountable for any action. We need to ensure that you are accountable. We don't want to damage you or comment against you. There are very serious allegations against you," the bench told the ED official.
Rajneesh Kapur, who claims to be an investigative journalist, has filed a petition in the apex court seeking investigation against Rajeshwar for allegedly amassing assets which are disproportionate to his known source of income.
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