Suspension of senior Himachal IAS officer revoked

Suspension of senior Himachal IAS officer revokedShimla, Oct 13 - The Himachal Pradesh government has revoked the suspension of senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sanjay Gupta, who was arrested by the state vigilance bureau on charges of corruption, an official said here Tuesday.

"The government Monday revoked the suspension of Sanjay Gupta on the orders of the chief minister. His posting orders would be decided later," a senior official of the personnel department told IANS.

Gupta, who was the General Industries Corporation (GIC) managing director, was arrested from a hotel in Parwanoo by the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau in July this year for possessing Rs. 200,000 in cash.

Another case of disproportionate assets was registered against him during the course of investigations of the bribery charges.

His homes in Shimla and Panchkula (in Haryana) were raided and the vigilance bureau had seized documents, including several fixed deposit receipts, bank papers and shares. They also sealed his bank lockers.

Gupta was earlier charged with irregularities and financial bungling when he was posted as the additional deputy commissioner of Kinnaur in the early 1990s.

Director General of Police (Vigilance) D. S. Manhas refused to comment on Gupta's reinstatement.

The reinstatement comes as a serious blow to the vigilance bureau which has tightened its noose against corrupt officials in the state. (IANS)