Verdict reserved on fugitive IPS officer Joydeep’s bail plea

Bhubaneswar, July 16: The Orissa High Court on Saturday completed the
hearing on the anticipatory bail application of suspended Tripura-cadre IPS
officer Joydeep Nayak, who is on the run following a Vigilance case against him
over alleged misappropriation of Rs 88 lakh and reserved its verdict.

On July 1, apprehending imminent arrest, the fugitive IPS
officer had approached the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

The top cop is booked by the anti-corruption wing of the
Odisha Police for his alleged key role in misappropriation of Rs 88 lakh meant
for computer education of SC and ST students during his deputation to his home
State Odisha on December 9 last year. The scam occurred while he was working as
the IGP in Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) in Cuttack earlier this year.

It was alleged that 1991-batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IPS
officer disbursed the amount showing undue official favour to a local computer
institution in violation of financial norms and without floating any open
tender. Five others, including an OPS officer and a senior steno are also
booked in this case.

While the five accused persons were arrested on June 22, the
IPS officer escaped arrest as he had returned to his parent cadre on June 2
after completion of his deputation period. However, the State Vigilance wing
though tracked him at a hospital in New Delhi Government but could not able to
nab him.

In July first week, the IPS officer was suspended due to
unauthorisd absence.