Appointment anomaly? CBI widens its probe against Matang Sinh

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has put under its scanner a few senior-level bureaucratic appointments made since last year to verify alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, two weeks after it arrested former Congress MP and MoS Matang Sinh. These appointments include those made in a top public-sector enterprise and a central paramilitary organisation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has put under its scanner a few senior-level bureaucratic appointments made since last year to verify alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, two weeks after it arrested former Congress MP and MoS Matang Sinh. These appointments include those made in a top public-sector enterprise and a central paramilitary organisation.

The appointments that are under scrutiny were allegedly done at the behest of Sinh, who was arrested by the CBI on January 31 in Kolkata for his alleged role in the Saradha chit-fund scam. He is suspected of having maintained a circle of bureaucrats that allegedly benefited from him and also doled out favours.

“There were several appointments suspected to have been managed by Matang Sinh. The appointments made in a PSE and a paramilitary force are under the scanner to see if any favours were given,” said a CBI source. The agency’s move indicates that the probe against Sinh has widened.

Sinh had been arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation of funds in the Saradha case.

According to the source, the Intelligence Bureau has sent a report to the ministry of home affairs that narrated his ties with several bureaucrats. The CBI may access the report as it scrutinises his alleged “deep nexus in the higher echelons of bureaucracy.” Sinh’s name was added last year to CBI’s Undesirable Contact Men list.