President’s comments send corruption cases back to cold storage

NEW DELHI, February 20: President K R Narayanan has asked the Union Government to "reconsider" its cases of corruption against for...

NEW DELHI, February 20: President K R Narayanan has asked the Union Government to "reconsider" its cases of corruption against former Union Ministers Satish Sharma, Sheila Kaul and B Shankaranand.

While Narayanan hasn’t said an outright no to the request for sanction for prosecution, he has sent a list of queries. This, sources say, effectively stalls the cases which have already been dragging on for more than two years now. With elections on, the Government is yet to decide on its response. The President’s Press Secretary, T Seetharam, refused to comment.

In March 1996, the CBI had accused former Union Housing Minister Sheila Kaul of abusing her position to allot 22 shops, including four to her grandsons and her relatives. The CBI registered a case of criminal misconduct, illegal gratification and abuse of her position as public servant.

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The President thinks otherwise. He has reportedly told the Government that there’s no evidence that Kaul took money for the allotments. And because there’s "noevidence" to prove that she allotted shops "by corrupt or illegal means," sanction for prosecution may not be granted on charges of either criminal misconduct or illegal gratification. At best, the President’s note suggests, a case of nepotism could be made out against Kaul for favouring 22 persons. But the President argues that since these shops have now been taken back and re-auctioned, Kaul’s prosecution may not be "fruitful." Similar is his comment in the Shankaranand case. In December 1995, the CBI had accused him of committing "serious irregularities" and violating procedures of the Oil India Development Board in sanctioning funds for a Portfolio Management Scheme.

Fairgrowth Financial Services Ltd, the company which received the money, allegedly invested it in securities and the share market.

In this case, too, the President has reportedly pointed out that the evidence collected does not indicate the Minister’s "direct" involvement. Narayanan also returned the Government’s prosecution plea againstformer Union Petroleum Minister Satish Sharma arguing that there was nothing to suggest that Sharma had taken money in allotting the petrol pumps.

Satish Sharma

Charge: Under Section 13 (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act; abusing his official position to allot petrol pumps.

President: Did the CBI seize assets disproportionate to Sharma’s income? What’s the nature of violation of procedure? The Court has already asked him to pay a fine so why prosecute?

Sheila Kaul

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Charge: Abused her "official" position to allot 22 shops. Charged with criminal misconduct.

President: Is there evidence to prove she received bribes for the allotments? Has the CBI seized any assets disproportionate to her income? Third, since the court has already retrieved most of the shops, will it be "fruitful" to initiate criminal prosecution?

B Shankaranand

Charge: Serious irregularities under procedures of Oil India Development Board (OIDB) insanctioning funds.

President: Does the CBI have evidence to prove his direct involvement? Any evidence that he was bribed?

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