Plum post for CBI top cop’s kin in UP

The UP government has appointed Rajiv Shrivastav to the much-coveted post of secretary in the Kanpur Mandi Samiti. M Hasan reports.

The UP government has appointed Rajiv Shrivastav to the much-coveted post of secretary in the Kanpur Mandi Samiti. This is considered a plum post in the Mandi Parishad, a government body to regulate wholesale markets.

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Last month, Rajiv had been transferred from Faizabad to the very small Panwari (Mahoba) samiti. Kanpur, on the other hand, is one of the biggest mandis in the state.

Rajiv is the younger brother of Deputy Inspector General of CBI (Lucknow) Pankaj Shrivastav. Rajiv had also moved the high court against his transfer to Panwari. According to an order dated July 26, issued by Mandi Parishad director Rajesh Kumar Singh “the transfer has been done at his (Rajiv Shrivastav) request”.

Rajiv told the Hindustan Times over the phone that he had already joined his post at Kanpur. He added that the high court had not taken up his case yet. However, he refused to comment on his relations with DIG CBI Pankaj Shrivastav. “I don't want to say anything about it,” he said.

Highly-placed official sources said two inquiries pending against him are being withdrawn, but Rajiv feigned ignorance about these. Sources said a case had been registered against him under the Harijan Act for abusing pump operator Siya Ram.

Another case relates to the collection of mandi tax during his posting in Varanasi last year. On the basis of a probe report, a departmental inquiry had also been initiated against him recently. But now, the investigation is reportedly being shelved.