Most powerful bureaucrat of previous government in trouble
Delhi HC asks Centre and CBI to take decision on former principal secretary of Chhattisgarh Aman Kumar Singh on complaints of corruption within 16 weeks.
Aman Kumar Singh used to be the most powerful bureaucrat during the tenure of Dr Raman Singh as chief minister of Chhattisgarh. It seems that woes of the former principal secretary to the then chief minister Dr Raman Singh are brewing with a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court directing the Central Government and CBI to take an early decision against former Aman Kumar Singh on the allegation of corruption, benami properties etc. A lawful decision on complaints should be taken within 16 weeks, said Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh while hearing a writ petition filed by Rakesh Choubey of Raipur.
In the petition filed on December 4, 2019 and July 17, 2021, the petitioner urged the court to ask the CBI and the Central government to register an FIR against Aman Singh and further investigation into allegations of corruption, money laundering and benami transactions. It was also demanded in the petition that a SIT should be constituted against Aman Singh under the supervision of the court.
Between 2003 and 2018, the petitioner made several complaints to the government officials for investigation into corruption, benamitransactions and money laundering, the petition told the court and added that no action was taken in this connection..
Allegations in the petition
According to petitioner Rakesh Choubey, it is clear from the annual property return of AmanSingh at the time of joining the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) that he was from modest family. But he has managed to amass disproportionate assets of more than 2500 crores contrary to his legal sources of income. They have suddenly increased the wealth of the family by way of benami investment in properties and business in the name of family members etc.
Violation of service rules alleged
Aman Kumar Singh has also been accused of violating service rules. The petitioner claimed, fearing that assets disproportionate to his income would be exposed, Aman Singh did not file a single annual property return while working in the Chhattisgarh government. By hiding these details, they have seriously violated the service rules of the Government of India and the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules. After joining the service of Chhattisgarh Government, various companies were formed in the name of his family members. It is alleged that through money laundering in these companies, he spent the black money earned during his tenure in Chhattisgarh.
Reason behind the petition filed in High Court
According to petitioner Rakesh Choubey, he had not made a single complaint against AmanKumar Singh and his racket in the agencies of Chhattisgarh. Apart from various Ministries of the Central Government, the petitioner had complained to Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), Director General of Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (DG-CEIB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Directive Complaints,Central Direct Tax Board (CBDT) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). All these agencies come under the jurisdiction of Delhi High Court.
Chhattisgarh High Court has given relief
The Chhattisgarh High Court has already given relief to Aman Kumar Singh and his wife Yasmin Singh against the FIR in the disproportionate assets case. Two weeks ago, the High Court had ordered quashing of the FIRs registered by the ACB and EOW against the duo. The court said that there is no disproportionate assets case against both of them. This FIR was registered on the complaint of Uchit Sharma.
