IAS body fears more arrests

The Bihar IAS officers’ fraternity is apprehensive of arrest of some of its other members in the wake of the sensational leak of recruitment exam papers from Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC), of which chairman Sudhir Kumar, a 1987 batch IAS officer has already been arrested. The Bihar chapter of IAS Officers’ Association has demanded immediate release of Kumar and enquiry into the scam by the CBI which the Government has already turned down.

Some senior bureaucrats were heard expressing their apprehension that some more IAS officers might be on the radar of the investigating agency Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Patna Senior SP Manu Maharaaj. “The Association is quite active following arrest of one bureaucrat and a delegation called on the Governor and Assembly Speaker with their memorandum. It is not because of one arrest but due to fear of more IAS officers,” said sources close to the association.

There are rumours that one more IAS officer was on the target of the SIT. Known as an upright officer he is also posted in the BSSC and his role is suspected in the paper leak as well as in attempt to provide a safe passage to Kumar and providing him an alternative mobile SIM when he switched off his official mobile and proceeded to Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.

The SIT is not ready to reveal anything about the probe. Its chief Mahaaraj said, “Our probe is on. Everybody is equal in the eyes of law. We will take action against anybody if evidence is found.” The bureaucrat whose role is being probed is not coming to office and has kept his mobile switched off. The Sit has alerted authorities at the airport and the railway station and keeping a vigil there so that he should not escape unnoticed.

Making fun of the demand of the CBI, Nitish wondered if the central agency was controlled by the civil servants. The CM also cited the example of the cases like Ranvir Sena chief Brahmeshwar Mukhia murder, Muzaffarpur schoolgirl Navruna’s disappearance and murder of Siwan scribe Rajdeo Ranjan and asserted that the CBI enquiry did not go beyond the findings of the police. 

“Cases are registered not on face value but on the basis of strong evidence. Any official against whom there will be evidence will not escape the hands of law. Our policy is to do justice and not frame or protect anybody whether he is a bureaucrat or politician,” Nitish said