Date:18/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/18/stories/2007091855940600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR orders inquiry into Samal’s assertions

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Seeking to cap the raging controversy over the charges levelled by retired Vigilance Commissioner R. C. Samal against bureaucrats and politicians, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ordered inquiry into his “statement to the press” by a three-member committee headed Chief Secretary J. Harinarayan.

The Additional Directors-General of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Vigilance & Enforcement will be members of the committee that will go into the veracity or otherwise of Mr. Samal’s report and find out whether it was “reasonable” for a retired IAS officer to resort to such actions. Based on the report, the government will take corrective steps to tackle corruption. “No corrupt official or politician, however big, will be spared,” Dr. Reddy said.

At a press meet here on Monday, Mr.YSR termed as “sweeping” Mr. Samal’s charges against the bureaucracy and political leaders and regretted that he had not spared even a constitutional body like A.P. Administrative Tribunal by describing it as a “rehabilitation centre for retired judges”. This attitude did not reflect the maturity that a retired IAS officer was expected to display.

Dr. Reddy said Mr. Samal might have made the charges with an “ulterior motive”. Asked to spell out the motive, he said the retired official either released the statement as a “curtain-raiser” for a sensational book he proposed to write or had done so at the behest of a political leader who had earlier set the evangelist K. A. Paul against him. The Chief Minister indicated that he was referring to TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu but did not name him.

Making a spirited defence of Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, he said Mr. Samal’s allegations were “uncharitable” since the Minister did not face a single charge throughout his political career. Equally unfounded were the charges against two senior officials in his office, Jannath Hussain, Principal Secretary, “who had an impeccable record of conduct” and M. G. V. K. Bhanu, Special Secretary, whose integrity and record of service in Assam were appreciated by Union Minister Kamal Nath.