Cheating case against MP DGP

Indore, Sep 22 (UNI) A criminal case for cheating and corruption has been registered against Director General of Madhya Pradesh Police Swaraj Puri in connection with his son's admission to the government engineering college here under NRI quota in 2001.

The Economic Offences Wing of the police registered the first information report (FIR) yesterday under sections 420, 467 and 468 of IPC and section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the DGP, his son Shreyas and Indore-based businessman Babulal Somani.

''The case was registered on the directive of Additional Sessions Judge Akhilesh Pandya on a petition filed by former Corporator Mahesh Garg'', official sources said today.

The Judge also directed the EOW to conduct the investigation within a month by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

According to the petitioner, the DGP had presented documents to facilitate his son's admission under NRI-sponsored quota showing ''Babulal Somani'' as grandfather of Shreyas, while in the electoral rolls Mr Puri's father's name was shown as ''Vidya Sagar Puri''.

Shreyas Puri, who was enrolled for B E course in 2001, passed out this year from Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore, while California-based NRI Somani had paid 16,500 US dollars as tution fee and caution money. The petition also mentioned Babulal Somani as a 'hawala' trader.

A former Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau, 59-year-old Puri took over as DGP more than a year ago.

Meanwhile, the petitioner also approached the High Court seeking a directive for CBI probe.

UNI AA-SP VD DS1438