With the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitting a detailed report of alleged corruption by former Secretary of DPIIT Ramesh Abhishek, the Lokpal is likely to initiate a probe in the matter soon, sources said.
Abhishek is facing allegations of abuse of official position and disproportionate assets.
The Lokpal had in early 2022 directed the ED to conduct an enquiry on two aspects, one concerning the valuation of the property situated at E-72, Greater Kailash, Part II and whether there was any conflict of interest in terms of remuneration received from private companies by Abhishek or his relatives.
Following this, the ED submitted an interim report in April and a final report in July, 2022 to the Lokpal. However, the Lokpal noted that several issues flagged were not looked into in the final report submitted by the ED.
In August, 2022, the Lokpal directed the ED to look into the issues relating to conflict of interest arising out of Abhishek and his relatives allegedly receiving professional fees from organizations with which he may have dealt with as Secretary DPIIT and Chairman of Forward Market Trading. In November, the ED submitted a supplementary report to the Lokpal and sought an open enquiry against Abhishek. The Lokp[al allowed the ED plea for an open enquiry to investigate Abhishek’s relatives and private parties.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court in May dismissed a petition by Abhishek challenging the Lokpal orders relating to the ED enquiries against him. Following the supplementary report by the anti-money laundering probe agency and the dismissal of Abhishek’s petition by the Delhi High Court, the Lokpal is set to initiate the probe against him who is alleged to have taken benefits from several private companies between 2020 and 2022 after his retirement from service, sources added.