SC Restrains Centre From Taking Action Against ED Officer Rajeshwar Singh [Read Order]

The Supreme Court has restrained the Centre from initiating any action against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Rajeshwar Singh, who has been investigating the Aircel-Maxis in 2G and  Sahara cases based on anonymous complaints against him.

A bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar said: “No action will be initiated until this court passes further orders.”

The bench also issued notice to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), ED, CBI and sought response from the stakeholders.

Singh, whose promotion as Assistant Director is due, has moved an application seeking the court’s indulgence following complaints against him sent to the Revenue Department, Government of India.

“Complaints come everyday, anything can be said against a person. We would like to examine,” Justice Chelameswar said.

The court passed the order after Subramanian Swamy, petitioner in person in Aircel -Maxis case and advocate Prashant Bhushan for main petitioner NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigations (CPIL) told the bench that they have no objection to the application filed by Singh.

Swamy said: “Singh is an honest officer and is being targeted by police people.”

His counsel Gopal Shankarnarayan submitted due to his clean record and honesty, Singh has been entrusted with high-profile cases, including 2G scam case, by the apex court.

He has been victim of several attempts in the past when he was probing Sahara case and recently the Revenue Department has received another similar complaint.

In September 2014, this court had directed the Centre to absorb  Singh, an officer probing money laundering cases in the 2G scam, as a permanent Deputy Director.