CBI has accused Andhra ACB of vitiating the atmosphere in the fight against corruption.
In a development with potentially far-reaching consequences, the Anti Corruption Branch of Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ), Visakhapatnam, has accused the Anti Corruption Bureau ( ACB ) of Andhra Pradesh government of 'vitiating' the atmosphere in the fight against corruption.
It may be recalled here that Andhra Pradesh government had withdrawn 'general consent' to the CBI on November 8.The latest case in point is the arrest of M.K.Ramaneswar, Superintendent, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) by officials of Anti Corruption Bureau of Andhra Pradesh Government.
According to Superintendent of Police, Anti Corruption Branch of Visakhapatnam's CBI, a written complaint from one K.Lokesh Babu of Machilipatnam was received on November 28 alleging a demand of bribe of Rs 35,000 by M.K.Ramaneswar of CBIC for not raising objections in the CGST returns filed by the complainant's firm.
The SP, CBI, Visakhapatnam, immediately wrote a Top Secret Letter addressed to the Principal Secretary ( Home ), Government of Andhra Pradesh, on November 28 itself. In the letter, it was requested to issue specific consent to CBI to lay a trap in this particular complaint. The letter also requested to keep the information strictly 'Top Secret' and not to share the information with any other party.The CBI made another follow-up on November 30 to Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary, Home, with a copy to Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
However, instead of giving Special Consent to CBI to handle this case as the accused happens to be a Central Government employee, the sleuths of Anti Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh, themselves laid a trap and arrested accused M.K.Ramaneswar on November 30.
Interestingly, the DGP Andhra Pradesh has issued a press release stating they got a complaint directly from complainant K.Lokesh Babu and they acted accordingly.
The CBI says," it deeply regrets such non-cooperation by the Andhra Pradesh Home department in this matter. This will only make the fight against corruption more difficult for the Anti Corruption Agencies and the mutual trust between the agencies will be vitiated,'' it added.
Ironically, the Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, R.P. Thakur's statement says, " the complainant approached him directly,'' which is seriously contested by the CBI. Further, the statement of AP DGP adds, "this is the first trap case on Central Government employee after General Consent to CBI was withdrawn the Andhra Pradesh government as per section 6 of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.''
With CBI's image already dented with a number of recent developments, this issue from Andhra Pradesh will add to its woes. Apart from Andhra Pradesh, the Bengal government had also withdrawn General Consent to CBI.While corruption remains a serious menace, this kind of turf is likely to seriously compromise the fight against corruption.
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