2 SIs suspended in Ghazipur for laxity in investigation

Varanasi: Two sub-inspectors posted at Kotwali police station in Ghazipur were suspended on Monday for alleged negligence in investigating a case involving the use of forged documents in a govt tender process.

The officers were suspended by DIG (Varanasi Range) Vaibhav Krishna after a review found serious lapses in the probe.The action followed a review of a case registered on charges of cheating and forgery.Krishna said the case was registered on Feb 25 on the complaint of the Block Education Officer, Ghazipur, following the orders of the District Magistrate. The matter pertains to a tender floated on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for the deployment of technical instructors.A total of 176 firms had participated in the tender process. During bank verification, documents relating to the Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs), Bank Guarantees (BGs) and Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs) submitted by seven firms were found to be forged or unverifiable.The review revealed that the investigating officers had failed to properly examine the serious allegations of forged financial documents. It also found that the names of the seven firms were dropped from the investigation without adequate grounds and that an attempt was made to file a final report despite prima facie evidence of offences.

On the DIG's directions, the ASP (City), Ghazipur, conducted a preliminary inquiry within two days, which prima facie established negligence on the part of both investigating officers.Following the inquiry, sub-inspector Rohit Kumar and sub-inspector Jitendra Kumar Upadhyay were suspended with immediate effect and attached to the Police Lines in Ghazipur, Krishna said.A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against both officers. The investigation has now been transferred to the circle officer (City), with directions to complete the probe within 30 days on the basis of the merits of the case.