Patna HC quashes FIR against IAS officer

The Patna High Court today quashed an FIR filed against IAS officer Jitendra Gupta, who was arrested and later suspended in a corruption case, by the Vigilance Department about three months ago.
A single bench of Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmad Ansari quashed the FIR while hearing a petition filed by Gupta.
The order has come as a relief for the IAS officer whose suspension was revoked by the Bihar government in September. This means that no prosecution would be carried out by the Vigilance in the case.
Gupta, who was sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Mohania in Rohtas district, was arrested by the Vigilance Department on July 12 for allegedly indulging in corruption.

The General Administration Department (GAD) of the state government issued a notice on July 20 suspending him. A case was registered against Gupta in the vigilance police station under anti-corruption law.
Papers of some trucks seized in the sub-division was found in the possession of the IAS officer following a complaint lodged by a trucker.

There is no direct evidence to show that Gupta had demanded money, neither the money was recovered from his possession, the counsel submitted.
The counsel further submitted that the officer has been falsely implicated in the case as he had acted against the truckers for their illegal activities.

The Vigilance court had on July 22 dismissed the regular bail petition of Gupta, a 2013-batch IAS officer.
The arrest of the officer had triggered protests from the state IAS officers' association.