UP's Vigilance Dept wants FIR against suspended IPS officer

The Vigilance Department of Uttar Pradesh has recommended lodging of an FIR for alleged disproportionate assets against suspended IPS officer Amitabh Thakur who termed it as "vendetta" by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and warned of legal action.
"Director Vigilance Bhanu Pratap Singh completed the inquiry and yesterday recommended lodging of FIR in the disproportionate assets case against Thakur," a Home Department official said here today.
The Home Department has sought the view of the Law Department in this connection, the official added.
Thakur, while terming the vigilance inquiry as "vendetta", met Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan and Principal Secretary (Home) Devashish Panda to complain that he was not provided an opportunity to be heard in this connection.

"Vigilance Director yesterday informed me that recommendation for lodging of an FIR has been made by clubbing the properties of myself and my wife," Thakur said.
"If it is not only for political reasons I should also be given an opportuity to be heard and told what properties are being taken as mine," he said, adding "I have been assured of justice by the senior officials whom I met today."

Thakur said he had also told the Chief Secretary that "if action is taken only because of the pressure of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav I too will be forced to take legal action."

Contending that the inquiry was completed in record time in total haste, the IPS officer said, "I will have no problem if I am held gulity after a proper inquiry. But if it is only for the political vendetta or the personal pressure of the Chief Minister, I will definitely try everything possible to get those responsible for it punished when the time comes."
The IPS officer, who was suspended a few months back, recently alleged that he was being harassed after he made public how Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav threatened him.
He has sought CBI probe and central intervention for justice.