CBI sends team to collect asset records from AP top cop

The Central Bureau of Investigation has sent a team to collect documents related to alleged disproportionate assets amassed by Andhra Pradesh police chief V Dinesh Reddy against whom an enquiry has been initiated by the agency on the directions of the Supreme Court.

CBI sources said the team is likely to examine Reddy in connection with allegations against him and collect documents related to his income and assets accrued by him.

The agency has registered a preliminary enquiry into allegations that Reddy, a 1977-batch Andhra Pradesh cadre Indian Police Service officer, had amassed properties which are disproportionate to his known sources of income, the sources said on Thursday.

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and S A Bobde had directed the CBI to conduct the probe and file status report within four weeks in connection with the allegations.

"The appeals are disposed of directing the CBI to investigate the matter against V Dinesh Reddy on the allegations of acquiring the disproportionate assets," the bench said while passing order on a plea of Umesh Kumar.

The IPS officer had filed the complaint against the director general of police by allegedly forging the signature of a Member of Parliament M A Khan.

The bench said probe is needed on the complaint even though it may be "forged or fabricated" as there was substance in the allegation levelled against Reddy.

"... Even though the complaint was bogus, however, the sale deeds annexed along with the same, though illegally collected by someone, have not been found to be fabricated documents," it said.

"It becomes evident that in case there is some substance in the allegations and material exists to substantiate the complicity of the applicant (Reddy), the case is to be examined in its full conspectus and the proceedings should not be quashed only on the ground that the same had been initiated with mala fides to wreak vengeance or to achieve an ulterior goal," the bench had said.