Govt shifts CBI officer as he seeks arrest of political leaders, bureaucrats in Srijan Scam case
Patna,(BiharTimes): In a surprise move the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday shifted the officer heading the team investigating the Rs 1,300 crore Fund Transfer Scam, also known as Srijan Scam, in Bhagalpur.
According to sources CBI ASP N Mahto replaced CBI additional superintendent of police (ASP) S K Malik, who was chief of the 20-member team probing the transfer of government funds allegedly to the accounts of an NGO called Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti. Malik has been asked to report to the CBI headquarters in New Delhi.
The timing of the move is being questioned as Malik, according to the sources, had recently urged the CBI court to issue arrest warrants against some senior bureaucrats, including former DMs, as well as politicians.
Malik was shifted soon after he submitted a preliminary report to the CBI headquarters. At least five IAS officers who had served as Bhagalpur district magistrate (DM) and three politicians with strong connections were under the CBI scanner.
As has been reported several politicians, bureaucrats and bank officials used to frequently visit the office of Srijan's in Bhagalpur to meet its late founder secretary Manorama Devi.
The CBI has already sought permission from the court to shift all the 17 arrested accused to Patna's Beur Central Jail as the cases related to the scam would be heard in the special CBI court in the state capital.
Earlier, ASP Malik had personally met special CBI judge Gayatri Kumari, who had granted permission to the investigating team to interrogate the accused in the jail.
As reported earlier a senior ED official had told mediapersons that the former ADM of Bhagalpur, Jayshree Thakur, could not be arrested yet because of her connection with a top politician of the state.
