Judge names SIT chief in teachers' recruitment scam

CBI deputy inspector-general Ashwin Shenvi to lead team

In compliance with  Justice Gangopadhyay’s order on Thursday, the CBI on Friday tabled a list of three names of CBI officers of the rank of DIG:Representational picture

TT Legal Reporter   |   Calcutta   |  19.11.22  : CBI deputy inspector-general Ashwin Shenvi will lead the special investigation team (SIT) that is probing allegations of irregularities in recruitments for government-aided schools in Bengal.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered Shenvi to take charge of the team in seven days. Shenvi is currently posted in the CBI’s anti-corruption wing in Chandigarh.

In compliance with Justice Gangopadhyay’s order on Thursday, the CBI on Friday tabled a list of three names of CBI officers of the rank of DIG.

The officers are Sudhangshu Khare, Michael Raj and Ashwin Shenvi. After the list was submitted, Justice Gangopadhyay asked CBI counsel: “Where is Pankaj Srivastava now? He is also a DIG.” The lawyer spoke to CBI officers in the courtroom and said Srivastava was in charge of the agency’s special training centre in Ghaziabad.

The judge said:  “Please inform whether Srivastava would be available or not.”

When the hearing resumed at 3.30pm, the  CBI lawyer told something to the judge in a low voice.

After discussions, the judge selected Shenvi. 

On Wednesday, Justice Gangopadhyay had appointed Akhilesh Singh as leader of the SIT.

On Thursday, the CBI counsel informed the judge that Singh would not be available as he had already been elevated to the post of IG and has been posted in Assam.

The judge then directed the CBI to submit list of three DIG-ranking officers on Friday and said he would select a DIG as chief of the SIT.

“I do not want that fate of this probe like the Saradha or Narada case,” said Justice Gangopadhyay.