2G scam: SC appointed probe officer goes on leave

A senior official of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who is probing the controversial 2G spectrum allocation scam, has availed year-long study leave, a move that could affect the probe.

ED Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh, who has been nominated by the Supreme Court as the Investigating Officer (IO) in the 2G case, is apparently miffed with the lack of clarity about his continuance in the agency.  The 41-year-old officer had even approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ordered his continuance in the ED. The CAT has posted the final hearing to next month after a review of files.

Sources said Singh was not in good terms with Finance Ministry officials and had run-ins with them in connection with the investigation. Finance Ministry earlier had sought his repatriation to his parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh police from the Supreme Court.

Singh, who had also investigated the Rs 4,000-crore money laundering case against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, sought leave for one year to pursue a degree in law. Even though the money laundering and foreign exchange violations probe against Koda remain far from complete, the officer has proceeded on leave.