Bhushan writes to PM, wants India government mint chief out

NEW DELHI: Lawyer-crusader Prashant Bhushan has sought the removal of the head of the India government mint, terming his appointment illegal.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bhushan has complained about the "undue and illegal continuance" of Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India (SPMCIL) CMD M S Rana, a UPA appointee, and accused him of "gross irregularities".Bhushan has urged the PM not to extend Rana's tenure.
Bhushan has cited two instances that he argues cast a shadow on Rana's eligibility for the post - one, an internal report by former CBI director P C Sharma that indicates a serious breach of national economic security due to lapses by Rana; and two, a misprint in 2014 that saw the release of bank notes bearing the signature of former RBI governor Dr DSubbarao, who retired from the post in 2013.
At a hearing last year on a PIL challenging Rana's appointment, the Delhi high court had asked the Centre why a person with "even the slightest taint" should occupy a sensitive post dealing with the production of currency notes, coins and stamps.
In court, Rana has denied any wrongdoing and termed the PIL "motivated". Refuting all allegations, Rana's lawyers have told the court that he had been cleared by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Incidentally, Bhushan's letter is also addressed to the CVC. In it, he has said SPMCIL is a "highly sensitive organisation performing sovereign functions for the government", and attached official notings by the government chargesheeting Rana for lapses that allegedly resulted in financial loss to SPMCIL.
"For reasons which are unfathomable, no final decision has been taken by the appointments committee of the Cabinet (on Rana's tenure extension) despite a lapse of over two years (since his tenure ended), resulting in (Rana's) unlawful continuance," he added.