The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected the Finance Ministry’s move to remove Investigating Officer of 2G scam cases Rajeshwar Singh from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw dismissed the interim application filed by the Government and also ordered to absorb the officer in the permanent service of ED. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had also ordered to absorb Singh in the permanent service. The Government had appealed against it in the HC. Singh, Deputy Director of ED, was directly reporting to the Supreme Court in the money trail of 2G and Aircel-Maxis cases.
However, he faced the wrath of big corporates as soon as he issued summons to controversial lobbyist Nira Radia. Several fraudulent cases were filed against him and his family members in various forums across the country. The apex court then intervened in 2012 and quashed all cases to protect the Investigating Officer.
Singh belongs to Uttar Pradesh police service and was on deputation in ED for the past seven years. In 2011, UPSC issued orders to absorb him permanently in the service of ED. But the Finance Ministry objected. It even rejected the recommendation of Director of ED to extend Singh’s service since the officer was reporting to SC in the 2G cases.
Meanwhile, Finance Ministry approached the Supreme Court’s 2G bench seeking permission to relieve Singh to parent cadre. This move was challenged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who accused the government of removing non-pliable officers. The 2G Bench comprising Justice Hl Dattu and Justice KS Radhakrishnan is expected to hear both cases in the last week of February.