2G scam: Top ED officer seeks his removal alleging harassment

New Delhi, Jul 31: An Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer against whom 50-odd complaints have stacked up in the last few weeks wants to pull out of the ongoing probe into the 2G spectrum scam.

Pushed to the wall, Rajeshwar Singh, an Assistant in the ED, in an official communication of June 7 requested ED headquarters to allow him to recuse himself from the probe mid-way saying he is fed up with the increasing number of "frivolous" complaints against him.

The saga of complaints against Singh began ever since he commenced the probe into the 2G scam and matters relating to the Sahara group.

A spokesman of Sahara, when contacted, did not want to comment on the matter.

As part of his probe, Singh has till now effected ten complaints involving Rs 7,000 crore under (Foreign Exchange Management Act) FEMA against various telecom firms involved in the 2G case and he is in the process to begin similar action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Singh had earlier knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court where he filed a contempt case against the chief of the the Sahara group Subroto Roy which led to a notice being issued against him and two others.

A spate of complaints against Singh have been received at the head office of the ED after they were referred by the Finance Ministry.

The allegations against him relate to various matters from the mode of funding of his marriage to his possessing 86 telephone connections in the last ten years.

PTI