Vigilance sleuths grill former chief secy Mitra

SHIMLA: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sleuths on Monday grilled former chief secretary Parthsarthi Mitra, at present holding a constitutional post, in connection with alleged irregularities in grant of permission to non-Himachalis under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 17

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sleuths on Monday grilled former chief secretary Parthsarthi Mitra, at present holding a constitutional post, in connection with alleged irregularities in grant of permission to non-Himachalis under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.

Mitra, who was sent a notice to appear for questioning, reached the bureau office in the morning and was questioned by an officer of the ASP rank. Mitra was called by the bureau but he did not cooperate and would be called again. The future course of action would be decided accordingly, highly placed sources in the Vigilance said.

The case against the officer was registered on March 21, 2011, by the Vigilance Bureau under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act on the basis of the statement of two businessmen from Panchkula and Parwanoo, whose telephonic conversation was recorded with the bureaucrat.

The bureau expedited the investigations and filed the closure report but the Special Judge rejected the report and asked it to reinvestigate the case as there was enough evidence. Following court orders, the Vigilance Bureau started the investigations afresh and sent a questionnaire to Mitra and other persons and called them.

The bureau also questioned the businessmen, who were also allegedly involved in the deal. Bureau officers had prepared a list of questions and confronted Mitra. The conversation pertained to alleged corruption in the grant of permission for purchase of land in relaxation of Section 118 of the Act.

After the Congress came to power in the state in 2012, the case was pushed on the back burner and the officer also held the posts of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and later as Chief Secretary during the Congress regime. Mitra retired as chief secretary on May 31, 2016, and was appointed the State Election Commissioner.