IAS officer in MHA detained for leaking secrets

Nov 23, 2010 - Age Correspondents |

New Delhi

An IAS officer working with the Union home ministry has been detained by the Delhi police special cell for allegedly leaking sensitive information from the ministry. A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act is being registered against him.

The police on Monday raided the North Block office and residence of Ravi Inder Singh, a 1994-batch officer of the West Bengal cadre, who is working as a director in the MHA’s sensitive internal security division.
“The raid was conducted following allegations that he has been leaking sensitive information out of the home ministry,” Union home secretary G.K. Pillai said. Police sources said Singh was suspected to be passing sensitive information to some corporate outfits.
The sources said Singh was picked up from Nivedita Kunj in South Delhi’s R.K. Puram area and is now being questioned by a joint team of the IB and Delhi police special cell. He had been under surveillance for around a month. “He is accused of leaking information to a commercial company and we are investigating the matter. He has not been arrested,” special cell joint commissioner P.N. Aggarwal said. Sources said raids may be conducted at the offices of the company to which Singh is suspected of having passed on information.
The MHA’s internal security division is considered its most sensitive wing as it handles all critical issues related to the country’s security. It also deals with formalising plans to counter the Naxalite menace and related procurement for security agencies.
The incident comes days after home secretary G.K. Pillai convened a high-level meeting in the home ministry asking all officials to guard against suspected espionage attempts to avoid any leak of sensitive information. A similar warning had been sent out to all ministries and government departments.
Singh is on a five-year Central deputation from January 20, 2010 uptil January 19, 2015. Born in 1967, he served in some key positions in West Bengal, including as district magistrate of Cooch Behar and West Midnapore.
He later served in the West Bengal state secretariat in Kolkata before being posted to the Centre.

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