Top Emigration official suspended

New Delhi, June 7 (UNI) P V Surya Rao, Protector of Emigrants (PoE) at Thiruvananthapuram, was suspended following CBI raids in his office in the light of complaints of malpractices and misuse of office for pecuniary benefits.

Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Minister Vayalar Ravi took serious view of the CBI raids and issued direction for his suspension along with an assistant in his office, Mr Indra Sen Sharma, OIA ministry sources said here today.

The CBI has registered a case against both of them under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for the offences of criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, cheating to obtain pecuniary advantages by abusing the official position.

When contacted, Mr Ravi said he would make the emigration department "corruption-free." Many more heads will roll," he said.

Following the suspension of Mr Rao, Mr Sanathan, working in PoE Mumbai, has been posted to Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr S K Jeeva, PoE Kochi, is being transferred to Chennai and Mr Rajan Kumar Jhan from Chennai to Kochi.

There are eight offices of Protector of Emigrants in India and they were recently brought under the Overseas Affairs Ministry from the control of the Union Labour and Employment Ministry.

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