Panel to decide anti-adulteration cell’s fate

Last week’s arrest by CBI of an official of Anti-Adulteration Cell has rattled the oil ministry. Barely days later, it has set up a sin...

Last week’s arrest by CBI of an official of Anti-Adulteration Cell has rattled the oil ministry. Barely days later, it has set up a single-member committee to examine the rationale of continuing with the cell.

The committee has been asked to examine the ‘‘role of the organisation in the deregulated scenario and its relationship with oil companies’’. It has been asked to submit its recommendation by May 31.

AAC’s Regional Director (North) Sandeep Garg, an IAS officer of 1991 batch, was arrested on Saturday on charges of corruption after searches revealed assets more than Rs 3 crores.

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The seizure included Rs 1.7 crore in a bank locker and Rs 12 lakhs at Garg’s residence besides properties and other investments. His house was raided soon after a Panipat businessman handed him Rs 16 lakhs, which CBI alleged, had been given by Garg for conversion into different denomination.

The raid, said CBI, was a follow up of the special drive in March against adulteration of petrol and diesel by firms allegedly owned by fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi.

That prompted a hurried meeting on Monday of ministry officials with AAC DG Prasanna Kumar where it was decided to appoint ministry’s Additional Secretary M.S. Srinivasana to ‘‘conduct an extensive review of the working of the AAC,’’ says the ministry order.

Srinivasan has to review AAC’s working along with safeguards and checks and balances to ensure tranparency and clean functioning. He has to spell out the measures required to ensure selection of personnel. The vigilance cell was set up in March 2001 to check adulterarion of petroleum products.

Uttarakhand rain: 12 in Chamoli go missing as buildings collapse, rescue ops underway

India1 min ago

At least 12 people have gone missing in Uttarakhand after a rainfall-triggered debris slide hit Nandnagar of Chamoli district early on Thursday, bringing down several buildings. The administration and rescue teams have reached the spot to search for the missing individuals.

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