IPL bet: Suspended SP challenges CAT order

The CAT had upheld the charge memo issued by the state home secretary pursuant to his alleged deposition before the Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee. 

A division bench of justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and RMT Teeka Raman, before whom the petition filed by Sampathkumar came up for hearing, ordered notice to the home secretary returnable by two weeks. 

The petitioner on contending that his deposition before the Mudgal Committee has earned displeasure from some quarters and at their influence, he was placed under suspension, said he was suspended and issued with the charge memo only with the ulterior motive to prevent him from participating in the proceedings before the committee constituted by the Supreme Court. He said considering the fact that the charges were famed without authority of law and against the dictum laid down by the SC, notwithstanding the fact that he participated in the enquiry proceedings, he was entitled to challenge the order passed by CAT as the charge memo suffers lack of jurisdiction since it was not approved by the disciplinary authority viz CM. 

Sampathkumar was issued with charge memo containing charges on eight counts framed under Rule 8 of All India Services Rules. Of them, six pertained to interacting with the media and the 7th one for allegedly collecting money through one Mahendra Singh Rana and the 8th charge was for not informing a transaction in a bank.