New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) With senior IFS officer Rakesh Kumar, allegedly involved in human trafficking, prolonging his stay in Munich on medical grounds, the CBI today decided to summon him for questioning. Kumar, Special Secretary (Economic Relations), who has been named by the agency in its FIR as one of the suspects, got himself admitted in a hospital in Munich after he broke his journey while returning from Brazil. Official sources said though most of the medical tests conducted on Kumar said he was normal, he has been insisting on staying in the hospital on one pretext or the other. He has postponed his return home at least on three occasions so far, the sources said. During a meeting here, CBI officials decided to send a notice to Kumar, a 1972 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code under which the investigating agency could summon any suspect or witness for questioning, the sources said. The notice is likely to be served at Kumars office in South Block tomorrow. Efforts to secure comments from Consular General of India in Munich J S Mukul did not fructify. Meanwhile, the CBI was examining all the files secured by the agency from Berlin related to the case of disappearance of nine Indians immediately after their arrival there under the banner of a dance troupe Mehak Punjab Di. The CBI was questioning Shiv Kumar Sharma, arrested by the agency, for allegedly acting as a conduit in sending people under the garb of dance troupes. Sharma, according to the CBI sources, was cooperating with the agency and the questioning could lead to some more fresh details in the case. The sources said Sharma and Kumar, who has been named for alleged abuse of his official position as Director General of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, would have to be brought face-to-face so that there was more clarity in the investigations. CBI sources alleged Sharma had taken Rs five to six lakh from every person for being illegally smuggled into Germany under the banner of dance troupe Mehak Punjab Di. Out of this, nine members went missing on arrival in Berlin and the allegation was that they were taken there with the malafide intention of being smuggled into Europe, the CBI charged. However, one of these, Har Gulab Singh, returned to India as he could not stand the tough life in Germany. He has also been named by the CBI in the FIR. These Indians used to seek political asylum in Germany under a changed name. However, the plea of five more Indians had been rejected by the authorities in Berlin and they could be deported back once their review appeal was also heard. Besides Kumar, Sharma and Singh, programme of officer of ICCR Kehkashan Tyagi has also been named in the case.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 03:34:51 +0000
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