Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: After the Orissa High Court quashed the corruption case lodged against former director-general of police Prakash Mishra observing that he has been victimized by political establishments, the prospects of State Government moving the Supreme Court challenging decision looks imminent. According to highly placed sources, the government is contemplating to appeal against the HC’s decision at the apex court.

On June 19, the HC quashed the corruption case lodged by the Vigilance department against Mishra due to lack of evidence. The court, while quashing the FIR and related criminal proceedings, observed that there was no case made against Mishra under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

While delivering the verdict, which was reserved since April, Justice S.C. Parija observed that “it’s not uncommon that upright and honest officers are often victimized by political establishments”. The single-bench of Justice Parija also lashed out at the Vigilance director for failing to ensure a fair investigation before registering an FIR against one of the most senior IPS officers in the country.

On September 20 last year, the Vigilance department had registered a case against Mishra, then special secretary in the Union ministry of Home Affairs, under Section 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of PCA. It had alleged that during his tenure as chairman-cum-managing director of Orissa Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, Mishra had shown undue favour to some steel and cement suppliers.

The complaint had claimed that he had made advance payment of Rs 59 crore to them in 2006 to 2009, bringing huge losses to the State exchequer. Mishra had moved the High Court challenging the charges. The former Odisha top cop alleged in his counter petition that the FIR was registered against him with mala fide intentions to tarnish his image and create hurdles in his career. Mishra was then in the race for the CBI’s top post.

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