HC quashes vigilance case against ex-DGP

In a major blow to the Naveen Patnaik government, the Orissa High Court today quashed a vigilance case against former Odisha Director of General (DG) of police Prakash Mishra over allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure as the head of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation and chided the state government for targeting honest officers.

The court rejected the vigilance case citing that there was no prima facie evidence against Mishra and the vigilance department did not conduct a fair probe before registering a case against the officer.

The court also said that Mishra was victimised by politicians in an apparent reference to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ruled state government. "It's not uncommon that honest and upright officers are victimised by political establishments," justice SC Parija said in his order, which quashed the FIR filed by the vigilance department. The state vigilance had lodged a case in September 2014 against Mishra alleging that during his tenure as Chairman-cum Managing Director (CMD) of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation between 2006 and 2009, it was found that the accounts of the company were not properly maintained and hundred percent advances were paid to cement and steel rod suppliers without authority. This caused a loss of Rs 7.27 crore to the state exchequer.

Mishra, who was the police DG between July 2012 and June 2014 and is on central deputation since July last year, had questioned the move of vigilance department and said the case was filed weeks ahead of the selection of new CBI chief only to deprive him of the chance to head the Central investigating agency.