KL Report
SRINAGAR
State accountability Commission (SAC) has ruled out any possibility of taking a suo motto cognizance of the infamous drug scam, saying, the government has already withdrawn powers of taking a suo motto notice rendering SAC unable to act of its own. The anti-graft commission however maintained that in case anybody files a complaint in this regard, SAC would swing into action.
“We don’t have any suo-motto powers now, government has withdrawn those powers.” Chairman state Accountability Commission Justice (Rtd.) Nargotra told KNS on Wednesday evening.
“We had appealed against the government decision in the high court, but it (HC) upheld the govt. decision”, claimed Nargotra.
He however added that if anyone files a complaint in the spurious drug scam, SAC will definitely act.
“For now, I don’t think there is any complaint against the scam in SAC, but yes, if someone files a complaint, we will take up the case for investigation, ”maintained Chairman of the anti-graft commission.
Dispelling the notion that crime branch can’t investigate a sitting Minster, Justice (Rtrd.) Nargotra said that the agency can under prevailing law investigate cases against Minster or politicians if a criminal case is lodged against them.
“CB can open up investigation against any politician and minster if it is a criminal case.” Justice Nargotra added.
He also said that the cases already transferred to State Vigilance Commission were gathering dust in the Commissions office because of the non availability of staff to the SVC.
“There are various cases that have already been transferred by virtue of statuary powers to the SVC, but the files are still lying with SAC, because they don’t have the staff to receive those files.” Said SAC Chairman. He further added that the investigation process of those cases was halted and there was no progress in the investigation.
According to sources 282 among the total 458 anti-graft cases have been transferred to SVC.
Meanwhile maintaining that all the sitting ministers whose cases are lying with the commission have got stay orders from High Court, Justice Nargotra said, at least two cases of former ministers have been decided by the High Court.
In the meantime, Crime Branch, which is currently investigating the Scam has maintained that there was no possibility of brining ministers or politicians in investigation net for now.
“Yes we can investigate against Ministers and Politicians in criminal cases, but in this particular case, we are not going to bring any minster or politician in investigation net as of now.” IGP crime Branch, Javid Mujtabah Geelani told KNS on Wednesday, adding that putting any politician or minster in investigation net would be pre-mature for now. He however added that the investigation was going in right direction, and admitted that the case was of criminal nature.
