The Hans India: Visakhapatnam: Thursday, September 28,
2017.
The Telugu
states must be talking about the corruption kings, Engineer-in-Chief P
Panduranga Rao and Director of Town Planning GV Raghu, both cooling their heels
in the prison for amassing wealth disproportionate to their known source of
income. But people are now wondering
why no cases
were being booked against MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Chairpersons of Zilla Parishad,
municipalities, corporators and councilors though they come under the purview
of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.
Highlights:
- RTI Act in May this year says only one political representative was booked in 2012 and none after that People wonder why no cases were being booked against MPs, MLAs, MLCs, ZP chiefs, corporators and councilors though they come under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988
- ACB official says the tainted Town Planning Director GV Raghu escaped the ACB net while working in Visakhapatnam as Chief Planning Officer due to political connections
Information
sought under the RTI Act in May this year said only one political
representative was booked in 2012 and none after that. The reply from the joint
director (coordination) and public information said from April 1, 2012 to March
31, 2017, one political leader was booked under the RCA (registered case of
assets) and subsequent years were shown blank. The reply did not mention which
post the leader held.
Only sources
said he happened to be a sarpanch.During the same period, 646 trap cases and
109 disproportionate assets cases were registered against the government
officials.The joint director also replied that the bureau would register trap
cases on a specific complaint and assets cases on source information which
implied that no complaint was registered so far and there was no source for
detecting the assets of public servants.
The elected
political leaders are treated as public servants since they get remuneration
from the government.When questioned, Director General of ACB RP Thakur fumed
with anger and said,“Don’t you think we are working? The local DSP K
Ramakrishna Prasad also refused to comment. BJP Floor Leader and local MLA P
Vishnu Kumar Raju, who was responsible for getting four senior officials booked
for corruption during last three months, said the ACB has been doing a splendid
job.
“Unless the
ACB gets specific complaint orfoolproof information, it would be difficult for
them to book a case against a political leader,’’ Vishnu Kumar Raju said.
Senior CPM
leader Ch Narsinga Rao said the political leaders have mutual understanding.
The ruling party, leave alone their party members, will never initiate a case
of corruption against opposition leaders.
“Political
leaders, bureaucrats and big businessmen form a coterie. The ACB is also part
of the government, it will not dare to act against the political
representatives,’’ Narsinga Rao said. In fact, the political leaders amass more
wealth than the officials.
If a case is
booked, they cannot escape by transferring the assets in the name of spouse or
children. As per section 13(1) (e) of PC Act 1988, the public servant, his wife
and children are treated as one unit.
The tainted
Town Planning Director GV Raghu, who was arrested in Vijayawada on Monday,
escaped the ACB net while working in Visakhapatnam as Chief Planning Officer
due to political connections.
He gave
approval to a building complex at RK Beach which had several violations. He was
given a flat worth Rs 1.5 crore for according approvals.
“Though the
ACB wanted to file a case against him then, withdrew it because DharmanaPrasada
Rao, who was a minister then and DaggupatiPurandeswari also purchased flats in
the same building complex,’’ said a source in GVMC.
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