2G: Govt issues order for permanent appointment of ED officer

The apex court had issued directions in this regard on Sept 8

Acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, the government has issued fresh orders for permanent appointment of an Enforcement Directorate officer in the agency who has been tasked with the probe into the 2G spectrum allocation case.

The Finance Ministry, on September 13, issued orders for appointing Rajeshwar Singh as Deputy Director in the agency on "absorption basis with immediate effect".

The apex court had issued directions in this regard on September 8 after it was informed that Singh's appointment has not been made regular by the government despite an order from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which was issued in December last year.

Sources said Singh, who had proceeded on one-year sabbatical owing to lack of clarity over his continuance in the investigation agency, has taken over charge last week after the Finance Minister issued the orders.

Singh was appointed as an Investigating Officer (IO) in the ED's 2G spectrum probe team by the apex court.

While Additional Solicitor General (ASG) L Nageswara Rao, appearing for the Centre, had informed the top court during hearing that the money laundering probe in the 2G case and the Aircel-Maxis case was already over, the sources said, one remaining issue of breach of 74 per cent cap of FDI by the Maxis group in Aircel Ltd was still unfinished.

ED is also expected to file a separate charge sheet in the Aircel-Maxis deal after the CBI recently filed its investigation report in this case. The officer is set to take over these probes now.

The apex court, on May 1, had ordered that Singh not be taken away from the ongoing probe into 2G cases and directed that he would continue with the investigation till the completion of trial.

The order was passed after it was alleged that Singh was being transferred to his parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh Police where he was serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police.