Two senior IPS officers booked in Chhattisgarh PDS scam

The alleged irregularities in the PDS took place during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Raman Singh and the investigation of the case was handed over to the anti-corruption branch (ACB) of the Chhattisgarh police headed by Gupta.

Published on: Feb 8, 2019, 23:09:45 IST

Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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The Chhattisgarh police on Friday booked two senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers — Mukesh Gupta and Rajnesh Singh — on charges of illegal phone tapping and destroying of evidence during their probe into the alleged public distribution system (PDS) scam, a police officer said.

Two senior IPS officers booked in Chhattisgarh PDS scam. (Representative Image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

While Gupta is posted as special director general of police at the police headquarters, Singh is the superintendent of police, Naryanpur.

The alleged irregularities in the PDS took place during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Raman Singh and the investigation of the case was handed over to the anti-corruption branch (ACB) of the Chhattisgarh police headed by Gupta.

“While investigating the PDS scam, the accused IPS officers tapped certain phone numbers without getting requisite permission. A back-dated permission was later taken,” said Kalyan Elesela, an officer who is part of the special investigating team (SIT) probing the role of senior government functionaries in distributing poor quality rice to people under PDS. Elesela said that there were about a dozen phone numbers that were tapped without any approval from the competent authorities.

“I am denying all these charges & categorically stating that I have done nothing illegal,” Gupta said responding to the claims. Singh did not respond to phone calls.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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