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Karnataka-cadre IPS officer to lead 2G probe

Last Updated 21 November 2014, 20:53 IST

Rupal Kumar Dutta, additional director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), will now lead the probe into 2G spectrum scam after the Supreme Court directed agency Director Ranjit Sinha to recuse from the investigation.

The agency on Friday issued a press statement announcing the new assignment of Dutta, a 1981-batch Karnataka-cadre IPS officer. Dutta heads the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).

“As per the direction of Supreme Court, Director CBI has recused himself from the investigation and prosecution of the case relating to 2G spectrum allocation. As directed, R K Dutta, additional director, who is the senior-most officer of the investigating team in the case, will now be overall in-charge of the case,” it said.

This is the second case coming Dutta’s way in controversial circumstances. In May this year, CBI sent a letter to all Supreme Court judges stating that Joint Director O P Galhotra would not be in-charge of coal scam probe and Dutta would take his place. The change came after it became known that Galhotra’s relatives were working with Jindal group, an accused in the scam.

Before joining the CBI in July 2012, Dutta was Director General of Police, CID, Special Units and Economic Offences in Karnataka.

Initially, the CBI considered Special Director Anil Sinha, who is the number two after the Director, instead of Dutta. But, on close reading of the Supreme Court order, it became clear that a person heading the investigation team should be put in charge of the 2G cases and it was decided to have Dutta at the helm.

Less than two weeks before his retirement, Sinha is facing the ignominy of being asked to recuse from the probe after Supreme Court said there is "prima facie credible evidence" against him.

Dutta, a BTech from IIT Kanpur and MBA from Swinburne University in Australia, has held several important positions in anti-corruption, training and  other divisions/zones of the CBI from 1988 to 1996 and 2000 to 2006.

He has also held the posts of Joint Director, DIG and SP.  He has been associated with the investigation of a number of sensitive cases, including those entrusted to the Centre Bureau of Investigation by the Supreme Court and high courts that have ended in conviction of the accused persons.

Dutta has held various positions in Karnataka as Superintendent of Police (Karwar and Davangere), DIG Intelligence, Security Vigilance and Northern Range and IG North Eastern Range.

He has also served as Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) and also as ADGP in Karnataka Lokayukta. Dutta has been awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

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(Published 21 November 2014, 20:49 IST)

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