Despite stiff opposition from the Bihar Government, the President of India has confirmed the services of 2013 batch IAS officer Jitendra Gupta, who had been given a clean chit by the Supreme Court after he was falsely implicated in a corruption case by the State Vigilance Department.
Due to the apathy of political and executive wings of the Bihar Government for over a year, Gupta’s confirmation was delayed by over nine months even, as the services of his other batchmates were confirmed in December 2016.
A Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) notification dated September 14, 2017 said Gupta’s service has been confirmed with effect from September 2, 2015 under Rule 3-A of the Indian Administrative Service (Probation) Rules, 1954. His service was confirmed after a long legal battle with the Nitish Kumar Government whose Vigilance Department had framed the young IAS officer, who holds a medical degree.
Gupta, now 35, in his first posting as the sub-divisional officer (SDO) at Mohania in Kaimur district of Bihar, had exposed the nexus of the “entry mafia” with police to facilitate the entry of overloaded trucks and goods carriers without proper permits and papers into Bihar resulting in a huge loss of revenue to the State.
Sources said that though he was handpicked by Nitish Kumar personally to arrest the huge financial loss due to immense corruption in that segment, Gupta was arrested by a team of the State Vigilance Department on bribery charges on July 13, 2016.
The raiding team had shown recovery of Rs 80,000 cash from Gupta’s driver as proof of their allegations which landed him in jail for a month.
“Thanks to continuous support from his wife who fought the battle for Gupta while he was in jail. At times we were pained to notice the lady carrying her infant on her arms and pleading to the authorities and judiciary that her husband was framed. The President’s confirmation is yet another victory for Gupta and his family against the Bihar Government,” said a Bihar care IAS officer.
Gupta had even requested the SC to get his cadre changed from Bihar.
Gupta, who hails from Delhi, had told the court that his and his family’s fundamental rights were brutally violated and he was facing great hardship, including threat to his life, in Bihar. Gupta could not be contacted on the recent development, but sources said he has proceeded on a medical leave.