CBI searches senior IAS officer

CBI searches senior IAS officer
PRANATI MEHRA

MUMBAI, DEC 14: The CBI today conducted searches in various parts of the country, including the government circuit house at Jammu, in connection with a case against H L Kadulapaju, a senior IAS officer of the J & K cadre. The case relates to Kadulapaju's tenure as chairman of the Kandla Port Trust, when he is alleged to have favoured, along with his deputy, Vipul Mitra, a Hyderabad based company.

Kadulapaju is presently principal secretary (health), in the J and K government.

During the searches today by the officers of the CBI's Gandhinagar ACB unit, Rs 5.5 lakh in cash were recovered from the Jammu circuit house premises which the officer was occupying since May this year when he had reverted back to his home state. Another Rs two lakh in cash were found in his bank lockers, besides some foreign currency, sources said.

Of the four bank accounts identified by the CBI, a total balance of Rs nine lakh were found. The investigating officers are also questioning him about the 78 pieces of luggage that he allegedly took to Jammu on completing his deputation in Kandla.

The agency has also found evidence of several gifts made by the officer to his relatives.

The CBI had registered a case in October this year alleging that Kadulapaju and Mitra conspired to extend undue favours to one Dharti Dredging and construction Limited, Hyderabad, in a contract of the KPT, which caused a loss of Rs 56 lakh to the port trust.

The raids were on till late evening.