By IANS
New Delhi : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has failed to submit a charge-sheet in a corruption case against deputy commissioner of police A.A. Farooquee of Delhi who has been under suspension for more than two years.
Based on an oral complaint, the premier investigating agency had booked Farooquee, then in-charge of Supreme Court security, April 5, 2005, for illegally amassing wealth of Rs.6.15 million. Farooquee was suspended from his post Nov 18, 2005. His total wealth was valued at over Rs.8.25 million.
As per guidelines laid down by the home ministry, in cases involving officers under suspension, “the investigation should be completed and a charge-sheet filed in a court of competent jurisdiction in cases of prosecution or served on the officer in cases of departmental proceedings within six months as a rule.”
However, Farooquee, a 1978 batch Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Indian Police Service (DANIPS) officer, has been on suspension for more than two years and the CBI is yet to file a charge-sheet in the case.
His counsel Tarique Siddiqui said: “A senior Delhi Police official has been under suspension for such a long time and the CBI is yet to complete its investigation against him, which is highly demoralising.”
But the CBI was quick to give its reasons.
A senior CBI official said: “Though the investigation in the case is almost complete, the delay is caused as visual inspection of the property is required in a disproportionate assets case.”
CBI sleuths had alleged that out of Farooquee’s total assets, Rs.6.15 million were acquired through illegal means. They claimed to have found over Rs.100,000 cash and one kilogram of gold from his house.
The raids were conducted at five places in the capital, which included his official residence at Rajouri Garden, flats in Mayur Vihar and a girl’s hostel in Zakir Nagar.
The raids were said to be part of a nationwide CBI drive aimed at stamping out corruption among public servants.
Farooquee was earlier posted as principal, Police Training College, and also did stints at the Delhi Armed Police Battalion. He was deputy superintendent of police in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and assistant commissioner of police at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.