DGP himself files complaint on Chief Minister's portal; Kerala government playing games to prevent Yogesh Gupta from becoming ED chief?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government is trying to stop DGP-rank Yogesh Gupta from becoming the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief. Despite the Union Home Ministry's written request for clearance stating that there is no case or investigation against Yogesh three times, the government did not provide it. Without receiving this document, Yogesh cannot be considered for the head of the central agency. Despite the Centre's request and after meeting the Chief Secretary and the Police Chief several times, there was no solution. With this, Yogesh filed a complaint with the Chief Minister's Grievance Redressal Cell on June 1. This is the first time that a DGP has become a complainant on the Chief Minister's portal. There has been no response to this complaint either.

Yogesh, who is also a chartered accountant, has worked in the CBI for five years and in the ED for seven years. As the ED Special Director, Gupta led the investigation into the Saradha, Rose Valley, and Seashore chit fund scams, as well as the Narada bribery case and the Basil investment scam in Bengal that shook the country and implicated top politicians. Therefore, the Centre is interested in making Yogesh the ED chief. Yogesh is the only one from Kerala who is eligible for this post. The Home Ministry sent a letter to the Chief Secretary about a month and a half ago informing about this. Later, official letters were sent twice. The Chief Secretary collected a report from the Police Chief stating that there is no case or investigation against Yogesh, but it was not sent to the Centre.

Yogesh's appointment file can be sent to the Central Vigilance Commission only after getting the clearance of the Kerala state. Revenue Service officer Rahul Naveen, who was the interim director, has been given the charge of ED director. CBI chief Praveen Sood's term has also been extended. The terms of the CISF chief and the BSF chief will end in September and November, respectively.

Police chief list

Yogesh will be the third in the central list of those to become the next police chief. He was removed from the post of vigilance chief after he caught major corruption in politicians and public sector enterprises. This is why he decided to go to the centre.