How Chidambaram’s minion Ramesh Abhishek received retirement benefits as a quid-pro-quo from his money-earning posts
Retired IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek, who is currently facing a probe for disproportionate assets admitted to the Lokpal that he earned Rs.2.7 crore during a span of 15 months post-retirement, for professional service and consultancy works. This admission has prompted the Lokpal to direct the Enforcement Directorate for a wider probe into the financial deals.
Times of India, quoting the IANS news agency reported in detail about the huge money flowing to Ramesh Abhisehk’s accounts.[1]
Ramesh Abhishek was tainted Finance and Home Minister P Chidambaram’s close associate and was head of Forwards Markets Commission (FMC) and faced a lot of controversies in market manipulations during the heydays Chidambaram. Ramesh Abhishek got five extensions from Chidambaram to lead the FMC. The anti-corruption watchdog – Lokpal – also directed the evaluation of the plush bungalow of Ramesh Abhishek at Greater Kaialsh-II in New Delhi. Though the retired officer showed the palatial bungalow value as just Rs.2.6 crore, it is well known that the actual value might be above Rs.25 crore.
Ramesh Abhishek retired as Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade in 2019, admitted to Lokpal that during post-retirement he got earnings of more than Rs.2.7 crore from various firms in India and abroad as consultancy works, which is a clear case of quid-pro-quo deals during his service.
According to the controversial officer Ramesh Abhishek, he was accepting fees from around 16 companies after his retirement. The companies giving consultancy fees to the retired officer are Amway India Enterprise, Dharampal Satyapal Ltd, One97 Communications (Paytm’s promoter firm), Lulu International Malls Ltd etc.
Many firms giving consultancy fees, as admitted by Ramesh Abhishek, are shell firms or research or law firms or NGO or Think Tank firms which are linked to big Corporates. This clearly shows that the controversial officer who was posted in money-earning posts during his service was getting post-retirement benefits as quid-pro-quo.
Reference:
[1] DA case: Ex-DPIIT Secretary Ramesh Abhishek admits to crores of income post-retirement to Lokpal – Jun 14, 2023, ToI
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