CM sitting on graft cases: Congress

The Naveen Patnaik Government on Friday came under Opposition attack for sitting over a Vigilance proposal seeking sanction of prosecution against seven senior IAS and IFS officers on corruption charges.

Not only the Naveen Patnaik Government is sitting on the proposal, it is also avoiding to give reply on the issue sought through the RTI Act, former minister and chairman of the media cell of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Narasingh Mishra alleged.

This shows how ‘committed’ the Chief Minister is in fighting against corruption, Mishra said, adding  that a few days back, Yoga Guru Ramdev had praised Naveen for the anti-corruption moves taken by him.

The former minister said on May 25, 2011 a set of questions was asked through RTI whether the  Vigilance had sought sanction to prosecute six IAS officers and one IFS officer during April 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010. The questioner asked why sanction has neither been granted nor refused for such a long time.

It was also asked whether sanction sought by the Vigilance to prosecute against three IAS officials and one IFS official was rejected by the State Government. The questioner further asked whether the State Government can grant or refuse sanction to prosecute the seven IAS and IFS officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 or is it to be sent to the Centre for final order.

The State Government, however, did not furnish any information on the ground that it will hamper the Vigilance investigation. The first appeal against the Government order was rejected. In the second appeal, the Information Commission directed the Government on February 24, 2012 to give information sought within a month.

But the Government twice sought one month’s time from the commission to furnish the information.