HC asks CBI to probe a Rs 1.30 cr job racket

Chennai: The Madras High Court today directed CBI to investigate a Rs 1.30 crore job racket in which a former IAS officer, his son and a press reporter were allegedly involved, citing flaws in the probe by the local police.

Quashing the final report filed by the police before the X Metropolitan Magistrate's court at Egmore here as sought by D Vivekanandan and his son Kavin Vivek in their petition, Justice P N Prakash ordered CBI to probe the case.

According to the prosecution, the duo had allegedly collected Rs 1.30 crore from 10 people assuring them jobs as Public Relations Officers, Department of Information and Public Relations.

It said Vivekanandan was Project Director in Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society in 2013, a post equivalent to Secretary in the state government, and was living with his son.

It said Ganapathy, a reporter known to them, took the 10 people to Vivekanandan's home here on September 14, 2013, where each of them allegedly paid Rs 13 lakh to the former IAS officer who assured them the jobs.

Ganapathy later filed a complaint with the police about the incident when the 10 people failed to get the jobs and started pressurising him. The police probed it and filed a final report, which was taken on file by the Egmore Court.

Justice Prakash found fault with the probe by the police, which had not conducted an inquiry on purchase of stamp papers and the attestation done on by it by a notary public.

The judge said the prima facie complaint itself discloses the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The police should have filed the case under this Act, but had done so under IPC Sections 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), among others, he said.

The court also said that in the ordinary course of events, the father and son should have been arrested, questioned and recovery done, based on their disclosure, which is relevant under Section 27 of the Evidence Act.

The then directed that a probe be conducted by CBI.