Chhattisgarh IPS Officer seeks transfer of cases against him from State Police to CBI, SC issues notice

The Supreme Court has today issued notice in a petition filed by IPS Officer from Chhattisgarh Mukesh Gupta seeking transfer of FIRs registered by Chhattisgarh Police to CBI. Gupta, who was the Director-General of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has alleged persistent persecution by the State machinery allegedly at the behest of the Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel and Senior IAS Officer, Anil Tuteja..A Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and MR Shah issued notice to the State government in the matter..Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani along with advocate Ravi Sharma appeared for Mukesh Gupta..The petition states that Gupta was instrumental in unearthing two of the most significant economic offences during his tenure as the Head of EOW..The two scams are Nagrik Aapurti Nigam scam and Alok Agarwal case. NAN scam concerned large scale corruption officers and employees of State Civil Supplies corporation while Alok Agarwal case pertained to corruption by an Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department..During his tenure as Head of EOW, FIRs were lodged against Bhupesh Baghel who was then an MLA, for fraudulent misappropriation of land meant for the low-income group..Within hours after Baghel became Chief Minister, an order was issued to transfer the petitioner from DG, EOW to DG Police Headquarters without any work charge..Subsequently, on a representation made by IAS officer Anil Tuteja, a SIT was constituted to reinvestigate NAN scam. The SIT lodged an FIR against the petitioner alleging that he had made illegal phone intercepts against those involved in the NAN scam..Further, another FIR was registered against the petitioner alleging criminal breach of trust, fraud and dishonestly fabricating documents to get the property registered illegally..Gupta has alleged that the State has used all its might to obstruct justice and stall the ongoing NAN trial and has been hounding the petitioner in the process..He has, therefore, sought transfer of probe in the FIRs against the petitioner from State police to CBI..[Read Order]