Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court that a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official, suspected to be involved in a 16,000-acre land scam involving the Kandla Port Trust in Gujarat, needed to be shifted out of the shipping ministry.

The CBI told this to the division bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who have also asked the government to remove the official from the ministry in order to carry out a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.

The CBI filed its status report about the scam alleging that the IAS official, Rakesh Shrivastava, was one of the suspects who granted prime land near Kandla Port on lease to private parties at throw-away prices for development of industries, including salt manufacturing units.

Around 6,500 acres of land has been earmarked for the development of a special economic zone (SEZ), the CBI said.

“He processed various files regarding renewal of leases and his role is being critically examined,” the CBI said.

“Continuation of this officer at the post is likely to have an adverse impact on the on-going inquiry. A letter dated Jan 24 was sent to the cabinet secretary, government of India, recommending that Shrivastava may be transferred to some other post not linked with the matter in question,” CBI added.

The bench sought a response from government on the issue and posted the matter for hearing June 3.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation alleging irregularities in granting the prime 16,000 acre land to private players.