In a severe setback to CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, Tamil Nadu Government late on Thursday suspended Archana Ramasundaram, hours after she joined as its Additional Director. In her suspension order, Tamil Nadu Home Secretary cited the reason that Archana illegally joined CBI without being formally relieved by the State Government.
The State Government also asked her to report back to headquarters immediately.
CBI Director invited controversies few months in the selection of the senior woman IPS officer by ignoring the recommended names of officers of CVC and Home Secretary. Archana’s appointment is already under challenge in Supreme Court by activist Vineet Narain citing blatant violations. The SC had already sent notice to Centre and Archana. CBI is expected to implead in the case on Friday.
Several opposition parties had raised protest on Archana’s appointment due to her proximity with DMK Chief Karunanidhi. CBI is probing the 2G scam where Karuna’s daughter Kanimozhi is main accused. Archana’s husband Ramasundaram was PWD Secretary and is considered close to Karunanidhi. He took VRS soon after AIADMK Government came to power and is presently working as a senior official in Nagarjuna Constructions.
Archana, a native of UP is a1980-batch officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. She became the first woman to be elevated to Additional Director rank in the CBI. AIADMK had raised objections to her posting in CBI alleging it was a bid by DMK chief Karunanidhi to save his daughter. She was not relived from the Tamil Nadu Government.
On Thursday morning after she joined CBI, questions were raised on how an officer can join without a relieving order from the previous organisation. When contacted, a CBI spokesperson neither denied nor confirmed if she was relieved by the State Government before joining the agency.
The name of 56-year-old Archana was recommended by CBI Director Ranjit Sinha to the Department of Personnel and Training, the cadre-controlling authority of the agency. Her name was cleared by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.