Himachal reopens graft probe against IAS officer

The Himachal Pradesh government has reopened a probe against Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer R.S. Gupta, who is facing corruption charges, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said.

Two cases of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy registered against Gupta in 2003 and 2005 are pending for investigation with the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, Singh said in a written reply to the legislative assembly Friday.

Gupta is currently posted as commissioner of departmental inquiries.

"The (trial) court has been requested to return the case file for further investigation," said the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio.

A police complaint was registered Dec 6, 2003, against Gupta when he was managing director of the Kangra Cooperative Central Bank Ltd. Another complaint was lodged against him in 2005.

The government has chargesheeted Gupta along with another IAS officer Deepak Sanan July 26 in another case which pertains to allow a change in the land-use of village community land for building a residential complex for players near the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association's (HPCA) cricket stadium in Dharamsala, official sources told IANS.

The HPCA built the complex with 38 rooms, 32 huts and gym, just three km from the stadium.

The alleged land-use change was approved during the tenure of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

The state cricket body is headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, son of then chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.