Accused of having disproportionate assets, the officer is considered close to Alok Verma as well as BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.
New Delhi: Within hours of the Supreme Court ordering that the Central Vigilance Commission probe into allegations against CBI director Alok Verma be completed within two weeks, the Narendra Modi government moved swiftly against Enforcement Directorate joint director Rajeshwar Singh, considered close to Verma and BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.
A show-cause notice was served on Singh through a special messenger at his Noida residence Friday night. Singh himself received the notice.
Among other things, Singh is under the scanner for having allegedly amassed properties disproportionate to his income.
Sources told ThePrint, the messenger informed Singh that he had orders to complete the formality of having delivered the notice.
The sources said orders that the show-cause be served on him Friday itself came “from the top”.
“There were clear-cut instructions that he had to be served the notice before end of day. Now he will have to respond to the charges in the show-cause. He may even be suspended if his response is not submitted soon or is unsatisfactory” said a source.
ThePrint had first reported on 25 October that having withdrawn all powers from Verma, the Modi government had decided to focus its attention on Singh, who was investigating the Aircel-Maxis case, in which the name of former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram has cropped up.
Also read: After CBI, Alok Verma’s ED ‘aide’ Rajeshwar Singh could be on Modi govt radar
The action against Singh also comes even as ED chief Karnal Singh completed his tenure Friday, with the government Saturday appointing IRS officer S.K. Mishra as principal special director with additional charge of interim chief of ED.
Since Mishra is yet to be empanelled as additional secretary in the government of India – a must before any officer can be considered for appointment to the post of ED chief, his appointment will be regularised once his empanelment happens.
Also read: Probe against ED officer not likely to affect Aircel-Maxis investigation
As for Singh, he has also been the BJP-led NDA government’s cross-hairs ever since he levelled serious allegations against revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia, including that he had delayed his promotion.
A provisional police service officer (PPS) of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Singh joined the ED in 2009 on deputation and was later permanently absorbed in the agency in 2015.