A senior IAS officer is suspected to be involved in the 16,000-acre land scam near Kandla Port Trust in Gujarat,CBI today told the Delhi High Court while recommending to the government his removal from the Ministry of Shipping for a fair and impartial probe. The agency filed its status report into the probe into the scam alleging Rakesh Shrivastava,Joint Secretary (Ports),Ministry of Shipping,is one of the suspects who granted prime lands near Kandla Port Trust on lease to private parties at throw-away prices for development of industries including salt manufacturing units. Around 6500 acres of land has been earmarked for the development of Special Economic Zone (SEZ). "Rakesh Shrivastava,Joint Secretary (Ports) in the Ministry of Shipping is one of the suspects named by the investigating officer. He has processed various files regarding renewal of leases and his role is being critically examined," CBI said in a status report filed today before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. "Continuation of this officer at the post is likely to have adverse impact on the the on-going inquiry. A letter dated January 24 was sent to the Cabinet Secretary,government of India recommending that Shrivastava may be shifted/ transferred to some other department/ post not linked with matter in question," CBI told the bench also comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna. The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General A S Chandhiok to take instructions from the government on the issue and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. The directions came on a PIL filed by an NGO,Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL),alleging irregularities in granting the prime 16,000 acre land to private players at a cheap rates as low as Rs 100 per acre.
