Daily Pioneer: New Delhi/Patna: Monday, July 16, 2018.
In a
startling revelation accessed through RTI, it has been found that the Bihar
Government had ‘manipulated’ an affidavit report pertaining to life threats to
a Bihar cadre IAS officer seeking cadre change.
While the
State submitted in the court and subsequently Central Administrative Tribunal
(CAT) that there is no life threat to the ‘whistle blower’ officer who exposed
the nexus between trucks mafia and officers, a joint investigation report by a
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer says that Dr Jitendra
Gupta, Bihar Cadre IAS 2013, face threat to life due to the expose.
Sources in
Bihar said in the matter of inter cadre transfer of Gupta the information
contained through RTI Act has exposed Bihar Government. The officer concerned,
Dr Jitendra Gupta, had filed writ petition in Supreme Court which directed the
Central Government to look into his grievances. The Department of Personnel and
Training (DoPT) considered Gupta’s representation for cadre transfer and sought
comments from Bihar Government.
A report now
revealed through RTI, a copy of which is with The Pioneer, mentioned that SSP
and Deputy SP (DSP) jointly investigated and submitted their report vide letter
no. 7004 dated June 19, 2017 which states that Dr Jitendra Gupta (IAS) was
“implicated in a false case of bribery by mafia and there is a threat to
Gupta’s life from mafia and anti social elements”. However, the State did the
blunder to dump this report and rather submitted a superficial report to DoPT
and in judicial documents stating that there is no probable threat to his life.
But during
the tenure of the then Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, the State
administration opposed the case of Gupta and said that there is no probable
threat to his life and the officer can continue to serve in Bihar ‘fearlessly’.
Singh was
issued a contempt notice by CAT for not complying with the orders to issue a No
Objection Certificate (NOC) to Gupta within a stipulated time but he
superannuated thus sharing the case to ne incumbent Deepak Kumar. Kumar in the
capacity of CS has to appear in person in court if Bihar Government still declines
the consent during the next hearing at CAT on July 26, 2018.
“Because of
this superficial report that did not support the case of Gupta, the Centre
denied his cadre transfer. Gupta then approached principal bench of CAT which
directed both Centre and Bihar to transfer Gupta to Haryana or send him on a
Central deputation. The Bihar Government in order has filed a writ petition in
Delhi High Court challenging the CAT order but Delhi HC refused to grant stay
against CAT order and the next hearing is scheduled on Monday (July 16),”
sources explained.
Gupta was
implicated in false cases by the Vigilance Department of Bihar in July 2016,
when as the sub-divisional officer (SDO) at Mohania in Kaimur district, he exposed an organised racket comprising of both
bureaucracy and political involved in entry of overloaded trucks and goods
carriers without proper permits and papers into Bihar.
The medico
IAS was arrested by a team of the vigilance investigation bureau on bribery
charges on July 13, 2016 but in October 2016, the Patna High Court struck off
the criminal case against Gupta, after it found to be fabricated and held that
the process of law can’t be abused. The order of the High Court was upheld by
the Supreme Court which directed the Central Government to look into his
grievances of young IAS and take appropriate action.
After a legal
tussle, Gupta obtained a relief from CAT, which directed the DoPT to either
allot a different cadre to Gupta or assign him a Central deputation. The IAS
officers’ association of Bihar and Central IAS Association have strongly
protested the unlawful action of State Administration against Gupta.
.JPG)
.JPG)
