New Delhi
15 May 2006
An Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official who is reported to have come
under CBI scanner for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities during his
tenure in the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has dismissed the allegations
as baseless and said that he was prepared to fully cooperate with the investigating
agencies.
When contacted, Dr Mohta clarified that he was deeply disappointed and anguished at a
report filed by a news agency containing baseless and unsubstantiated allegations
against him during his tenure as Director ICCR.
"Unfortunately," he said, "credence has been given by some quarters to a slew of
absurd and mischievous allegations made by a discredited and dismissed former
employee of ICCR who worked in my department and is notorious for being a habitual
complainant over the years and was removed from service with the approval of the
competent authority in the Ministry of External Affairs for chronic absenteeism."
"I may also mention that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by this employee
was dismissed outrightly by the Delhi High Court on the basis of lack of substance.
Since during my tenure I did not enjoy any financial powers, not even to incur one paisa
of expenditure, the question of my involvement in any financial irregularities does not
arise. I have taken no action which did not have the authorisation of either the Director
General ICCR or Foreign Secretary in his capacity as Vice President ICCR or President
ICCR."
He went on to say that this kind of "prosecution by media" has not only done "serious
damage to my character and reputation" even before the investigating agencies have
verified the facts and with whom he was prepared to fully cooperate but who have done
great disservice to "a wonderful organisation like the ICCR."
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