SC restrains action on ED official probing 2G cases

The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained action on "frivolous and anonymous complaints" against Enforcement Directorate's deputy director Rajeshwar Singh who is probing the 2G scam cases.

A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer issued notice to the Centre on a plea by Singh, who, represented by advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, contended that the attempts were made to harass and browbeat him by filing a complaint with Revenue Secretary, following the attachment of properties of an accused in the Aircel-Maxis case.

"Suppose, someone comes after 20 years and makes a complaint against a person holding public office, will it be entertained? It will become difficult to work if such complaints are entertained," the bench said, directing no action shall be taken on any complaint till further orders.

Though the counsel did not name the accused, the Enforcement Directorate had on September 23 attached the properties worth Rs 1.23 crore of Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

Singh, an Uttar Pradesh cadre police officer, has been permanently absorbed in the ED on a direction by the apex court on September 8, 2014. He contended that similar attempts were to file "false complaints" against him were made when his promotion was due. Singh is now due for promotion as additional director in the ED.

His counsel pointed out that the apex court had in 2012 initiated contempt action against some persons for such attempts. In his plea, he submitted the CBI should probe such complaints or he should be relieved from the scam probe.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, on whose complaints the probe was started in the Aircel-Maxis case, submitted Singh was an honest officer. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the CPIL on whose PIL, the apex court directed the CBI probe into the 2G scam, supported the application filed by Singh.