CBI conducts raids on govt employees

NDTV: "The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today conducted raids at 198 places across the country in one of the largest anti-corruption drives. The raids, targeting central and state government employees, including police, excise, customs and public sector units officials, yielded over Rs 80 lakh in cash and Rs 14.28 crore in assets.

Three people were arrested in the capital during the raids, including National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language Director Hamidullah, and an official of the MCD. Nearly 70 senior officials are under the CBI scanner in connection with 58 cases.

Among the targets for the raids was a fancy apartment in Chennai, worth over Rs 30 lakh. The apartment is owned by Central Excise Superintendent Balachandran, whose monthly salary is less than Rs 10,000.

The investigating agency has seized incriminating documents to prove that Balachandran holds assets worth Rs 1 crore in the form of immovable property, shares and cash in 16 bank accounts. The CBI also raided the premises of the BSNL Chief General Manager in Jabalpur, and recovered files showing misuse of power.

Another official in the dock was Delhi Police Inspector Ishwar Singh, who got the force international acclaim by cracking the Hansie Cronje match fixing case. The CBI claimed that Singh's duplex flat in south Delhi and two Maruti Zen cars were a cause of suspicion, given his salary.

The Indian Institute of technology (IIT) Delhi also got the CBI attention after one of its administrative officers was caught with assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Next in line was National Homeopathy Council President SPS Bakshi, who also runs a well-known retail chain.

However, the CBI is concerned about the fact that someone from the agency had leaked the news of the raids a day earlier, which helped many officers conceal what could have otherwise been recovered. But the leak notwithstanding, today's raids definitely come as a major crackdown on the evil of corruption within government services."