EARLY TIMES IMPACT

CBI-tainted DD official sent packing to headquarters

Mandi House acts after CBI recommended ‘Rigorous Departmental Action’ against Rafeeq Masoodi

Early Times Report

SRINAGAR, May 30: Days after Chief Vigilance Commissioner of Government of India took cognizance of a story published in Early Times and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) revealed in reply that it had recommended capital punishment for the accused, Directorate General of Doordarshan has removed Director of Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Srinagar, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi, from his posting in Srinagar. Masoodi has been shifted to the DD headquarters with the apprehension that he could influence or tamper with evidences while continuing as Director DDK Srinagar. As already reported in detail in this newspaper’s May 14^th edition, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conferred the prestigious State Award on Dr Masoodi inspite of CBI investigating two corruption related FIRs against him in Srinagar.

In follow up action to File No: A-22012/2/2011-S-III, approved by Director General (DG) of DD, Deputy Director Administration, Sunita Bharal, has issued Order No: 2011/S-III dated 27-05-2011, shifting as many as 35 officers of Junior Administrative Grade (JAG), Senior Time Grade (STG), Junior Time Scale (JTS) and Programme Executives (PEX). Figuring at serial number three of the order, copy of which is available with Early Times, Masoodi has been shifted from DDK Srinagar to Directorate General of Doordarshan with immediate effect. The order is silent with regard to the new incumbent in Srinagar, even as some officials of bad reputation and decades long posting in home state have mobilized all of their contacts to grab the prize position.

Five officers of the rank of Director, who have been shifted to new places of posting among 35 DD officials, include R P Bhandarkar, S P Panigrahi, Rafeeq Masoodi, L K Chopra and OGD Sharma. According to the same order, Ravinder Naaz, PEX at DDK Jammu has been transferred and appointed as PEX at DDK Srinagar. Mumtaz Beg, PEX at DDK Bhopal has been transferred and posted as PEX in DD’s Urdu Channel.

Interestingly Masoodi emailed to media from his official ID in Srinagar that he had been promoted to the higher rank of Deputy Director General (DDG) of Programmes and thus posted at DD’s headquarters. However, there is nothing like that in the order.

Highly Placed sources in Mandi House as well as Prasar Bharti Broadcasting Corporation of India denied rumours of Masoodi’s promotion and posting as “DDG at the headquarters” in New Delhi. Officials revealed that action against Masoodi had become inevitable after Chief Vigilance Commissioner took cognizance of a report, published in Early Times on May 14^th, and asked CBI as well as DG Doordarshan as to what action had been taken in two particular matters of corruption at DDK Srinagar.

On May 16^th, Vigilance authorities in New Delhi dashed off a letter to SP of CBI in Srinagar, asking about progress achieved, if any, in two particular FIRs registered by CBI against certain DDK Srinagar officials, including Director of the station, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi.

According to these sources, CBI informed Directorate General of Doordarshan, DD’s departmental vigilance as well as CVC that it had established Masoodi’s involvement in the matters of corruption. Rather than prosecuting the official in a court of law, it had used the option of the “Departmental Action”. CBI, according to sources, informed DD as well as CVC that on account of the official’s involvement, it had recommended “Rigorous Departmental Action” (RDA), making it incumbent upon DD to take the desired action.

Sources elaborated that in the matters of “capital punishment”, as recommended in Masoodi’s case, DD was bound to initiate rigorous action that includes dismissal from service, prolonged suspension and freezing of promotions and annual increments in salary. The action begins with the accused official’s removal from his place of posting.

 In the matters of ‘minor’ punishment, accused officials are placed under suspension for some time, three of their annual increments are withdrawn and some annual increments frozen. Sources said that in both cases, the employer’s action was subject to endorsement of CBI. These sources further revealed that an official posted in DD’s departmental vigilance wing, who had been allegedly helping Masoodi and a senior lady official posted in DDK Srinagar, had also been removed earlier this year.

Even after Early Times reported in detail how the State Award was being conferred on a DD official who was involved in two serious matters of corruption under investigation with CBI, Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah honoured the accused official at an investiture ceremony at SKICC in Srinagar on May 14^th. They even chose him for receiving the award granted to eminent Kashmiri singer and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s wife, Shameem Dev Azad, who was not present in Srinagar. Masoodi’s shifting from Srinagar on charges of corruption has all the potential of huge embarrassment for the head of the government as well as the head of the state who were kept in the dark by General Administration Department.

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