PIL seeks "independent functioning" probe agencies in UP

The Allahabad High Court today sought a reply from Uttar Pradesh government on a Public Interest Litigation seeking "independent functioning" of state-level investigating agencies like CID, Anti Corruption Organization, Economic Offences Wing and Vigilance Establishment.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Yashwant Verma, asked the state government to file its reply within six weeks on the PIL which has been filed by an advocate Anoop Barnwal.
The petitioner has alleged that due to political interference, these agencies were not able to function properly in the state.
The petitioner has also cited the examples of former Noida Chief Engineer Yadav Singh and IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and alleged that the state agencies could not investigate either case effectively because of interference by the state government.

While Yadav Singh has been accused of amassing properties to the tune of more than Rs 900 crore - way beyond his known sources of income - Thakur, who has been suspended in the wake of his complaints of threats from Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, recently faced a raid by the vigilance department at his residence in Lucknow.