HC rejects plea by IAS officer, kin seeking quashing of CBI probe into graft charge
1
2
Cuttack : The Orissa high court on Friday dismissed a writ petition filed by senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi, his wife and daughter seeking to quash a CBI investigation into alleged corruption.
The court ruled that the petition was "premature and not maintainable", as the investigation was still at a nascent stage.
The case stems from the arrest of a PSU executive on Dec 8 last year for allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a Bhubaneswar-based real estate firm. During interrogation, Sethi's name emerged, prompting a CBI search at his residence on Feb 18 this year. The petitioners alleged procedural violations and harassment, and sought the return of seized materials.
Justice S K Panigrahi, however, rejected these claims, emphasising that the extraordinary writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of Constitution cannot be misused to derail legitimate investigations. "Higher the office, greater the responsibility," he observed, noting that Sethi, as a senior bureaucrat, is expected to uphold legal integrity, not evade scrutiny.
The court stressed that no chargesheet had been filed yet, and interference at this point would undermine both investigative processes and public interest.
It criticised the petitioners' approach as "forum-shopping" and warned against setting a precedent that powerful individuals can shield themselves from legal accountability.
The court clarified that its refusal to intervene does not equate to a presumption of guilt, and the petitioners retain full rights to defend themselves during trial. However, it maintained that mere status or reputation cannot justify halting a probe into serious allegations of public corruption.
On Feb 25, Justice Panigrahi had ordered, "As an interim measure, it is directed that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners till the next date."
The interim restriction was extended from time to time and was in force till the petition was dismissed on Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Last word
HCs and trial courts must follow SC's line on free speech The Constitution is clear – you have the right to freedom of speech and expression, subject to reasonable restrictions. But like an Ashokan edict carved in stone, the Constitution's letter is only as good as the spirit of the institutions tasked with upholding it. In the Thug Life case, SC has once again struck a blow for free speech. While clearing the Kamal Haasan film's release in Karnataka, it has made it abundantly clear that one person's 'hurt sentiments' are not a reasonable ground for curbing another's right to expression: 'In India…there will never be an end to the hurt sentiment phenomenon. But for that, right to free speech cannot be jeopardised…' Three months ago, in the Imran Pratapgarhi case, SC had forcefully made the same point: 'Even if a large number of persons dislike the views expressed by another, the right of the person to express the views must be respected and protected.' As the chief arbiter of the land, SC could not have made itself clearer in March any more than it can now. There's no way its word can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Yet, Calcutta HC told a 22-year-old early this month: 'Look, we have freedom of speech but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others.' Then, Karnataka HC told Haasan: 'You or any citizen have no right to hurt sentiments of the masses…' And lower courts' views on free speech are generally even more stifling. This divergence of opinion within the judiciary has a chilling effect on free speech because there's only one SC above hundreds of HCs and subordinate courts. If free speech is a pillar of democracy, and a tenet of the Constitution, it shouldn't have to run the gauntlet with the hope of eventual salvation in the apex court. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Boudh gets rail connectivity as PM flags off trains
1 2 Bhubaneswar: For the first time, Boudh district got train services after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off two new trains and extended the services of three existing trains connecting Purunakatak and Boudh on Friday. Modi flagged off the trains after inaugurating the Sonepur-Purunakatak section (73 km) of the Khurda Road-Balangir (301 km) new line project, connecting Boudh district. This railway section was constructed at a cost of Rs 1,376 crore. With this, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of seven railway projects worth Rs 2,750 crore. "Boudh district headquarters is now connected to the railway network for the first time after completion of this railway section. Finally, our district will be on the railway map of India, fulfilling the decades-old dream of the local people," said Seshadev Jani, a resident of Boudh district. He said people can now visit the Bhairavi temple at Purunakatak by train. "The Sonepur-Purunakatak rail section will strengthen the social and economic connectivity of this region. Now people from Boudh can visit Bhubaneswar, Khurda, and Cuttack via train," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The commissioning of the rail section helped the railways to run two new trains and extend the services of three existing trains up to Purunakatak via Boudh. The PM flagged off the Boudh-Bhubaneswar New-Boudh Weekly Express (18313/18314) and Sambalpur-Boudh-Sambalpur Weekly Express (18311/18312) here. People attended the flag-off ceremony of the trains at Boudh and Purunakatak stations. The Boudh-Bhubaneswar New-Boudh Weekly Express will leave from Boudh at 7 am every Monday and reach Bhubaneswar New at 6.15 pm via Balangir-Sambalpur-Angul-Naraj. In the return direction, this train will leave from Bhubaneswar New at 11 pm on Mondays and reach Boudh at 10.30 am on Tuesdays. Similarly, the Sambalpur-Boudh-Sambalpur Weekly Express from Sambalpur will leave at 7.25 pm on Sundays and arrive at Boudh at 11.55 pm on the same day. The return train from Boudh will leave at 12.15 pm on Tuesdays and reach Sambalpur at 5.30 pm on the same day. Apart from this, the Bhubaneswar-Sonepur-Bhubaneswar Inter-City Express and two pairs of Balangir-Sonepur shuttle passenger trains will now originate from Purunakatak in Boudh district.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Serial extortionist faking accidents in Bengaluru strikes again
Bengaluru: A serial extortionist known for faking road accidents and targeting lone vehicle users — particularly senior citizens — has struck again in the heart of Bengaluru, weeks after skipping court hearings and going underground. The suspect, Jameel Khan alias Saleem, 29, from Rajendra Nagar in Mysuru, had been arrested in Jan this year by Banashankari police for duping two motorists of more than Rs 1.5 lakh using the same modus operandi. He was remanded in judicial custody and released on bail after 40 days. Since then, police said, he has failed to appear in court, prompting them to initiate proceedings to cancel his bail. On June 2, Khan resurfaced, this time targeting a 78-year-old businessman, M Chandrashekhar, on MG Road, while he was heading towards Anil Kumble Circle. Near Trinity Circle, Khan's two-wheeler grazed the elderly man's car. Caught in heavy traffic, the latter chose not to stop, assuming it was a minor scratch. But Khan later overtook him, blocked his car near Mayo Hall, and climbed into the vehicle, claiming that his brother had been seriously injured and needed hospitalisation. "He entered my car suddenly and accused me of injuring his brother's leg in an accident. He demanded Rs 1 lakh as compensation," Chandrashekhar told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The incident occurred between 11.15am and 11.30am. "He kept talking on the phone, instructing someone to call an ambulance, which added to the pressure. He was very convincing and aggressive," Chandrashekhar recalled. Khan first snatched Rs 2,500 from Chandrashekhar's dashboard and then forced him to withdraw another Rs 3,000 from an ATM kiosk near Mayo Hall. The accused fled with the money soon after. Distressed and fearful, Chandrashekhar sought help from the staff at an MNC bank branch nearby, but no one came to his aid. The victim later filed a complaint with Ashok Nagar police, who launched a search but couldn't apprehend the culprit. How TOI report helped It was an old TOI article that helped Chandrashekhar identify the crook. "When I shared the experience with a friend, he sent me a link to an earlier news report detailing his (Khan's) methods and had his photo. It was clearly the same man," he said. Police records reveal a troubling history. In Jan, Khan was booked after a 68-year-old resident of Jayanagar IV Block reported being extorted of Rs 1.1 lakh in a similar fashion. On the same day, police found that another person was cheated out of Rs 60,000, also by Khan. Both cases involved the same method: A fabricated accident and an urgent demand for compensation. "Khan has been involved in at least 15 such cases across Mysuru, Maddur, Srirangapatna, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru since 2018. He typically targets lone car occupants, especially senior citizens," said an investigating officer. The incident has prompted police to issue a public advisory. "In such situations, don't panic. Call 112 immediately. A Hoysala patrol vehicle will respond within 10 minutes. Alternatively, drive to the nearest police station or flag down a patrolling officer for assistance," a senior officer said. GFX (with P2-Khan mug shot) A HABITUAL OFFENDER * Jameel Khan alias Saleem, a 29-year-old from Mysuru, is a known extortionist who fakes road accidents to target lone motorists, especially senior citizens, in Bengaluru and nearby cities * On June 2, he allegedly targeted a 78-year-old businessman on MG Road by staging a minor accident, forcefully entering the victim's car and demanding Rs 1 lakh as compensation * Khan snatched Rs 2,500 from the car's dashboard and coerced the victim to withdraw an additional Rs 3,000 from an ATM before fleeing * He had been arrested in Jan 2025 for similar crimes. He was released on bail after 40 days, and has since skipped court appearances, prompting efforts to revoke his bail * Police link Khan to at least 15 similar extortion cases since 2018 across Mysuru, Maddur, Srirangapatna, Ramanagara, and Bengaluru
