New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Odisha government for withdrawing the integrity certificate of senior IPS officer Susanta Kumar Nath after the CBI sought to question him in connection with a criminal case related to Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi was hearing a petition challenging Nath’s exclusion from the list of officers considered for appointment as Director General of Police (DGP), following the CBI communication.
The court asked whether the state was treating Nath, former Chairman of the Odisha Police Recruitment Board, as an accused in the case by withdrawing his integrity certificate.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, informed the court that the CBI investigation is still underway. He submitted that Nath’s performance appraisals did not mention anything about the criminal investigation.
Mehta added that after receiving the CBI request, the state government excluded Nath and forwarded a revised proposal containing integrity certificates of only ten officers for empanelment.
Seeking time to respond to certain queries raised by the court regarding ex-cadre posts, Mehta requested an adjournment. The matter has been posted for hearing next week.
