Centre denies CBI to file appeal against UP engineer Arun Kumar Mishra

NEW DELHI: The Centre has refused permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation to file an appeal against Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) engineer Arun Kumar Mishra, accused in a Rs 1,000 crore fraud case. Mishra has also been named by the Enforcement Directorate in a separate case of money laundering for which the agency had attached a bungalow at Prithviraj Road in New Delhi, estimated to cost Rs 500 crore.

The case also finds important mention by the SIT on black money set up last year by the Narendra Modi government. Officials said that CBI was to file an appeal against the orders of Uttarakhand high court, which quashed proceedings against Mishra. The agency had to challenge the order before the Supreme Court within 3 months of the verdict but then CBI director Ranjit Sinha ruled against filing an appeal even though the director of prosecution was in favour of appealing.

CBI sources said that by the time the agency decided to seek nod from the law ministry and DoPT to file an appeal against Mishra in late 2014, three months had elapsed and the government turned down the agency’s request citing ‘delay’. A senior CBI official ruled out the possibility of seeking permission from the government again.

ED also suffered a set back as the Delhi high court in April ruled in favour of Mishra.