DNA reported that with the CBI stepping up the probe into Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy’s illegal iron ore mining case, the Dubai based Emaar land scam and the disproportionate assets case involving Mr YS Jaganmohan Reddy, IAS officers serving in the state are trying to insulate themselves from the investigation agency’s action.

A team of about 55 bureaucrats met AP chief minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday and asked him to come to their rescue.

The officers are believed to have told the CM that the CBI is resorting to harassment of sorts without taking into account the rule book and the duty of the IAS officers in executing the decisions taken by ministers.

However, sources said that the officers cannot seek any immunity. A senior bureaucrat said that “The officers have a right to say no and they are under no obligations to please their political bosses if a decision taken by the politicians is contrary to the rules. The violations, if caused by an official action through issuance of government orders, are bound to cause trouble to the officers.”

Interestingly, the officers who had met chief minister Reddy could not get any immediate relief. According to sources, Reddy has told the team of officers that the issue of immunity would be referred to legal experts.

The CBI has already arrested two senior IAS officers and sent them to judicial remand. Ms Y Srilakshmi, a 1988 batch officer, was arrested for her role in Janardhan Reddy’s illegal iron ore mining case. Similarly, the CBI has also arrested the state’s home secretary Mr BP Acharya for his role in multi crore Emaar land scam.

The CBI is yet to kick off any active probe into Jagan’s asset case that is likely to cause trouble for many officers who had served in key positions when YS Rajasekhara Reddy was chief minister of the state.

(Sourced from DNA)