ACB raids an eyewash, politicos untouched

Visakhapatnam: The Telugu states must be talking about the corruption kings, Engineer-in-Chief P Panduranga Rao and Director of Town Planning GV Raghu, both cooling their heels in the prison for amassing wealth disproportionate to their known source of income. But people are now wondering

why no cases were being booked against MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Chairpersons of Zilla Parishad, municipalities, corporators and councilors though they come under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

Highlights:

• RTI Act in May this year says only one political representative was booked in 2012 and none after that People wonder why no cases were being booked against MPs, MLAs, MLCs, ZP chiefs, corporators and councilors though they come under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988
• ACB official says the tainted Town Planning Director GV Raghu escaped the ACB net while working in Visakhapatnam as Chief Planning Officer due to political connections

Information sought under the RTI Act in May this year said only one political representative was booked in 2012 and none after that. The reply from the joint director (coordination) and public information said from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2017, one political leader was booked under the RCA (registered case of assets) and subsequent years were shown blank. The reply did not mention which post the leader held.

Only sources said he happened to be a sarpanch.During the same period, 646 trap cases and 109 disproportionate assets cases were registered against the government officials.The joint director also replied that the bureau would register trap cases on a specific complaint and assets cases on source information which implied that no complaint was registered so far and there was no source for detecting the assets of public servants.

The elected political leaders are treated as public servants since they get remuneration from the government.When questioned, Director General of ACB RP Thakur fumed with anger and said,“Don’t you think we are working? The local DSP K Ramakrishna Prasad also refused to comment. BJP Floor Leader and local MLA P Vishnu Kumar Raju, who was responsible for getting four senior officials booked for corruption during last three months, said the ACB has been doing a splendid job.

“Unless the ACB gets specific complaint orfoolproof information, it would be difficult for them to book a case against a political leader,’’ Vishnu Kumar Raju said.

Senior CPM leader Ch Narsinga Rao said the political leaders have mutual understanding. The ruling party, leave alone their party members, will never initiate a case of corruption against opposition leaders.

“Political leaders, bureaucrats and big businessmen form a coterie. The ACB is also part of the government, it will not dare to act against the political representatives,’’ Narsinga Rao said. In fact, the political leaders amass more wealth than the officials.

If a case is booked, they cannot escape by transferring the assets in the name of spouse or children. As per section 13(1) (e) of PC Act 1988, the public servant, his wife and children are treated as one unit.

The tainted Town Planning Director GV Raghu, who was arrested in Vijayawada on Monday, escaped the ACB net while working in Visakhapatnam as Chief Planning Officer due to political connections.

He gave approval to a building complex at RK Beach which had several violations. He was given a flat worth Rs 1.5 crore for according approvals.

“Though the ACB wanted to file a case against him then, withdrew it because DharmanaPrasada Rao, who was a minister then and DaggupatiPurandeswari also purchased flats in the same building complex,’’ said a source in GVMC.

By KMP Patnaik