By IANS
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Monday set up a three-member committee to look into the allegations of corruption levelled against some top bureaucrats by former vigilance commissioner R.C. Samal.
While hitting out at Samal for his sweeping remarks against the administration and politicians, the chief minister said the committee to be headed by Chief Secretary J. Harinarayana would go into specific allegations.
The committee also includes additional director general, Anti-Corruption Bureau and additional director general, vigilance and enforcement.
In his first reaction after Samal made sensational disclosures about corruption in the chief minister’s office and other high places, Rajasekhara Reddy said it was not proper on Samal’s part to make such allegations against all bureaucrats and even ministers.
“He made sweeping remarks against constitutional bodies, politicians and all officials. One or two black sheep may be there among officers, politicians or even journalists but it is not correct to make allegations against all,” he said.
“Who has given him powers to make such sweeping allegations?” asked Rajasekhara Reddy, who suspects that leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu could be behind the former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official.
He said the committee would go into specific allegations made by Samal and recommend remedial measures wherever necessary to the government.
“The committee will look into all issues raised by Samal, their veracities or otherwise and their reasonableness,” he said.
Rajasekhara Reddy reacted three days after Samal, who retired as vigilance commissioner Sep 7, submitted a report to the chief secretary, naming 18 “corrupt” officials. He did not spare the home minister and chief minister’s office for harbouring corrupt officials.
Samal Sunday announced that in the next 15 days he would name 160 most corrupt officers of the IAS working in the state. He claimed that 18 officers he named in the report were only the tip of the iceberg.
The chief minister described Samal’s report as a ‘press statement’. Claiming that his government was determined to root out corruption, he wondered why Samal did not submit a single report as vigilance commissioner during last three years.
“Had he submitted a report to me I would taken action on it. Is it proper for a senior IAS officer to go to office after retirement, take photo copies of some reports and make such sweeping remarks?”
Giving a clean chit to Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, Rajasekhara Reddy said Samal crossed his limits and made “ugly remarks” against the minister without any proof.
Samal had described Jana Reddy as “dreaded” and alleged that the home minister was ready to bail out corrupt officials. He had even remarked that the intelligence agencies should have checked his antecedents to know whether he was fit enough to be appointed as minister.
The chief minister also defended two officials in his office named by Samal. “Jannat Hussain is principal secretary in my office. He is known for his impeccable record.”
Without naming leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said the Telugu Desam party president could be behind Samal. “The biggest manipulator in the state sent Paul after me and he may have now sent Samal,” said the chief minister.
International evangelist K.A. Paul had alleged a few months ago that the chief minister had demanded money from him before the 2004 elections for the poll campaign of the Congress party.