NEW DELHI: With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner the name for the Punjab Governor, S.S. Ray, is being mentioned in Congress I circles here as the likely candidate from the South Delhi or New Delhi constituency. Ray has, however, repeatedly dispelled rumors about his return to politics.
Ray is likely to be replaced by Mohan Katre, the Director General of the Central Bureau of Investigations who is under a cloud because of the scandal involving his son.
Katre who is an officer of the Indian Police Service has already received unprecedented extensions in service. The government was planning to give him another extension but it may have to reconsider its position because of his close connections with the Reliance Industries were revealed by the Indian Express. The industry is under investigation because of allegations that its senior executive hired a murderer in an attempt to kill Nuslia Wadia is the head of a rival textile firm.
The Indian Express had revealed that Katre’s son was a commission agent of the Reliance Industries.
Katre has been accused of covering up cases which could embarrass the Congress I and it was expected that he would be rewarded for this role. Katre had ordered raids on Indian Express in a blatant arm twisting to make it to the official line.
If the Congress I decides to field Mr. Ray he is likely to be relieved of the gubernatorial post in the next few weeks. A former Union Minister and former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Ray was appointed Punjab Governor on April 2, 1986 to succeed Arjun Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 15, 1989
