Ranchi, July 13: The Jharkhand Administrative Service Association (JHASA) has strongly opposed the arrest of Budhmu Circle Officer Sachchidanand Kumar Verma by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), alleging that the agency failed to follow due legal procedures and violated the rights of a gazetted officer.
In a statement, the association termed the late-night arrest as “illegal, unconstitutional and oppressive” and claimed that provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were not properly followed during the operation.
JHASA alleged that the arrest was carried out without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority. It further claimed that the officer was neither caught accepting a bribe nor was any illegal cash recovered from his possession.
The association argued that the arrest was based solely on the alleged statement of a co-accused and that no direct evidence had been presented to establish that the Circle Officer had demanded or accepted a bribe.
It also stated that the officer was taken into custody from his government residence in the early hours of the morning.
Referring to the land mutation case linked to the arrest, JHASA maintained that the application in question had already been approved in accordance with the rules after considering reports submitted by the Revenue Sub-Inspector and the Circle Inspector.
The association asserted that the case did not indicate any criminal intent or procedural irregularity on the part of the officer.
To examine the circumstances surrounding the arrest, JHASA has constituted a three-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of an officer of Additional Chief Secretary rank.
The committee will investigate the incident and submit its findings to the association.
The association has also urged the Jharkhand government to order a high-level inquiry into the matter, initiate action against ACB officials if procedural violations are established, and introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the arrest of gazetted officers in similar cases.
Warning of further action, JHASA said it would launch a phased statewide agitation if the Circle Officer is not provided justice and its concerns are not addressed by the government.
