Produce probe report on Prakash Mishra, Odisha HC tells Vigilance

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Feb 19:

The Odisha High Court today asked state Vigilance Directorate to submit the preliminary inquiry report, based on which an FIR was registered against former state DGP Prakash Mishra, in the court in a sealed cover.

Mishra is now the Director General (DG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Hearing the petition filed by Mishra, who had sought quashing of the FIR against him, Justice SC Parija directed the Vigilance Directorate to submit the inquiry report before the next hearing posted on February 24. 

The HC directive came after the Vigilance counsel pointed out that the FIR against Mishra was registered following a departmental inquiry into the procurement of building materials during the petitioner’s tenure as chairman of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (OPHWC) between 2005 and 2009.

Mishra is facing the vigilance case for allegedly showing undue favours to some suppliers in 2006 thereby causing pecuniary loss to the state exchequer.

Mishra, who was summoned by Vigilance to present his views on the case in November last year, had expressed his inability to respond to the summons in view of the official commitments.

During that period, Mishra was holding the key position of Special Secretary (internal security) in the Union Home Ministry and had reportedly expressed his inability to come for the deposition as the Parliament session was on.

Subsequantly, he was appointed DG of CRPF and the state Vigilance has not yet fixed any fresh date to summon him.

It may be recalled that the Odisha High Court had restrained the state government from taking any ‘coercive action’ against the senior police officer in October last year, who was posted as the special secretary, Internal Security then.