06-05-2024, Mon.
According to the information provided, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi attempted to “arm-twist” the agency and prevent it from availing its legal remedies. This allegation was made by the CBI in an affidavit filed in the last week of April by Akhilesh Kumar Singh, DIG in the Anti-Corruption Branch of CBI at New Delhi.
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a 2002-batch IFS officer, has been involved in a legal battle where he accused the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of discrimination and cover-up, particularly in the selection process of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Chaturvedi has been a whistleblower and anti-corruption crusader, highlighting cases of corruption and malpractice, especially during his tenure as the chief vigilance officer of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.
The CBI’s allegation of “arm-twisting” by Chaturvedi appears to be related to a contempt petition filed by him. The Delhi High Court has issued contempt notices to two senior CBI officers in response to Chaturvedi’s application seeking an early contempt hearing, emphasizing the importance of the case for his career. The legal proceedings involving Sanjiv Chaturvedi have been complex, with various courts and tribunals being involved in different aspects of the case, including recusals by judges and referrals to larger benches for decision-making.
The CBI’s affidavit suggests that Chaturvedi’s actions through the contempt petition are being perceived as an attempt to “arm-twist” the agency and prevent it from exercising its legal rights. However, Chaturvedi’s supporters, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have alleged that his removal from the AIIMS CVO position was the result of a campaign by corrupt officials and that his corruption cases involving senior IAS and IPS officers were hushed up.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions between Chaturvedi, a whistleblower and anti-corruption crusader, and the CBI, which has now accused him of “arm-twisting” the agency. The outcome of the legal proceedings and the resolution of these allegations will be closely watched, as they have significant implications for Chaturvedi’s career and the broader issue of accountability in the Indian bureaucracy.
