SC pulls up Raj govt for inaction in illegal arms case

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) The Supreme Court today pulled upRajasthan government for not taking action against itsofficers who were allegedly involved in illegal sale of armsand issuance of licences to dubious persons.

A Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S SNijjar sought an explanation from the state government why ithas not granted sanction to prosecute the officials, includingthree of IAS cadre, for alleged involvement in the scam andasked it to file within ten days a report on action it hastaken against them.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking a directionagainst the government for not taking action against itsofficers after the scam came to light in 2007 when authoritiesin Rajasthan''s Ganganagar district noticed that severallicenses were issued to dubious persons, including terrorists,smugglers and rowdy elements by local authorities withoutverification.

Subsequent investigations by the government revealed alarger racket in which several army officials, including someholding the rank of major generals, IAS officers and thosebelonging to Rajasthan State Service, were allegedly involvedin the sale of arms to dubious elements.

The government also placed some documents before thebench informing about the action taken by the Army against itsofficers whose names figured in the scam.