M A I N   N E W S

Top cops booked for wireless sets scam 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2
In the multi-crore wireless set scam in the Punjab police, several IPS officers of the state police have been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). An embezzlement of about Rs 5 crore in the purchase of wireless sets has been detected by the central agency during its investigations that focused on the purchases made during 2000 to 2003.

After registering a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the officers, including PPS officers, and three known private companies which supplied the substandard wireless sets, the intimation was today sent to the CBI Special Judge, Chandigarh.

Sources in the CBI said since the matter involved IPS officers, intimation had been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the state government.

About three months back, the investigation was handed over to the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after two persons, Mr Ashok Chaudhary and Mr R.K. Kwatra, moved a public interest litigation (PIL) stating that since top officers of the Punjab police were allegedly involved in the matter, the investigation should be handed over to an independent agency.

The wireless scam had hit the headlines after the PIL was filed for alleged irregularities committed in the purchase of wireless sets. The quality of the wireless sets and their warranty were also questioned.

In the PIL, the names of Mr K.K. Attri, ADGP, Mr R.C. Parsad (now dead), Mr G.D. Pandey, Mr D.R. Bhatti, Mr Izhar Alam, ADGP, Mr R.P. Singh, IG, and two PPS officers had been mentioned.

Subsequently, an enquiry conducted by Mr R.K. Gupta, Additional Director-General of Police, cleared the purchases made during 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, but it raised doubts about the purchases made in 2002-2003.

While disposing of the PIL filed by two advocates, a Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice H.S. Bedi directed the CBI to complete the inquiry expeditiously in the light of the fact that the purchase of the wireless sets was made by senior police officers and so that the guilty were brought to book.

Earlier, the Punjab Government had informed the court that two senior police officers—former Additional Director-General of Police (Computers and Wireless) D.R. Bhatti and former Superintendent of Police (Telecommunications) Malwinder Singh Sidhu—had been chargesheeted for their alleged involvement in the scam.

However, the two had also filed affidavits in the court, seeking a probe by the CBI into the alleged irregularities.

In his affidavit, Mr Bhatti had stated that he was willing to face the consequences if the CBI came to the conclusion that there was any misconduct on his part. He claimed that recommendations were made after examining the final report by ADGP R.K. Gupta. He had also asked the high court not to permit the Punjab Government to make him and Mr Sidhu scapegoats.

Thereafter, the court had directed the Directorate of Quality Assurance, Bangalore, to examine the wireless sets supplied to the Punjab police following the tender process. The Directorate submitted its report within six weeks.

The Bench has told the CBI not to be influenced by any observation or any interim direction passed during the proceedings in the PIL.