In a clear snub for the Odisha government, the Supreme Court of India today quashed its appeal challenging the June 19 High Court order quashing the vigilance case against CRPF DG and former Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra.
The state government had moved the apex court on August 13 challenging the High Court’s decision by filing a special leave petition (SLP) by Lawyer on state government panel Milind Kumar.
The case was heard by a bench consisting of Justice J Chelemeshwar and Justice Abhaya Manohar Sapre on today.
It may be noted that the state government, in its FIR, had charged Mishra with favouring some suppliers during his tenure as the CMD of Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation between 2006-7 and 2009-10..
Mishra had challenged this move in the High Court of Odisha seeking quashing of the case.
The court not only quashed the case, but also went on the pull up the government. “It’s not uncommon that honest and upright officers are victimized by political establishments,” said justice SC Parija said in his order.
Holding that there was no prima facie case against Prakash Mishra, the High Court had said the director of vigilance did not “ensure free and fair investigation before registering a case against the officer”.
Prasanta Patnaik