Two years after getting complaint, CBI widens probe

Though the timing of the CBI’s probe has come under question — given that the chief vigilance officer (CVO) of SAIL had already conducted a probe and recommended action — the agency argues that since a crime was already committed, they decided to lodge a case. The CBI also claims Paswan’s address at Janpath in New Delhi during his stint as Union minister for chemicals, fertilisers and steel in the UPA government, was used by several candidates for correspondence. Asked to comments on the allegations, Paswan said at a press meet, “What can I say? Anyone can give anyone’s address… I won’t like to make any comment on that.”

The agency alleges that appointments at middle and junior management levels in the PSU were made in 2008. From the documents seized during the raids, the agency now claims many candidates who were ineligible for the post were shown favours and their documents were attested by the personal staff of Paswan.

The CVO’s report was also examined by the CBI before registering a case and it was opined that no action had been taken by the authorities even after it was brought to their knowledge. But sources said they are yet to establish any quid pro quo and investigations would be difficult since these appointments were made during the UPA-I tenure.

The agency said it was expanding the probe and has zeroed in on some high-profile appointments. Officials said so far, they have been able to establish links in 13 such appointments, allegedly with “political connections”. These include Rajkumar Jatiya, son of BJP leader Satyanarayan Jatiya and S N Ragi, son of ex-Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

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