Of 89 sanctions to prosecute IAS officers, 55 just against 2

Over the past five years, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has okayed the prosecution of IAS officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at least 89 times. Of the 89 sanctions, 55 were against just two officers who have multiple cases against them.

Information obtained using the Right to Information Act shows 25 IAS officers of various cadres have been under the scanner of the CBI and state investigating agencies. They are in the dock in connection with land scams, disproportionate assets cases and are accused of favouring private parties.

As per the rules, it is mandatory for the investigating agency to seek the DoPT’s sanction to prosecute an IAS officer. This process of seeking permission from the Centre under the CrPC and the corruption act can be time-consuming at times. The CBI had sought a majority of the prosecution sanctions.

RK Srivastava, an IAS officer of the 1984 Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories cadre, tops the list with 35 cases against him. The officer has been accused of corruption in the Rs4,000-crore cooperative group housing scheme scam in Delhi that came to light in 2004. He currently holds the charge of secretary, urban development, and director of local bodies.

Following him is Vinod Kumar (1989 Odisha cadre) with 20 sanctions for prosecution against him. He is charged with misappropriating funds during his tenure as the MD of the Orissa Rural Housing Development Corporation.

Sanjeev Kumar of the 1985 Haryana cadre has four corruption cases against him; K Siva Prasad of the Punjab cadre has three cases.