Ranchi, Jan. 3: Jharkhand High Court today disposed of a PIL filed by one Raju Kumar for an inquiry into the secret service (SS) funds scam involving former DGP V.D. Ram.

A division bench of Chief Justice Bhagwati Prasad and Justice D.N. Patel also directed Kumar to appear before the single bench in front of which Ram had challenged a state government notification for initiating a CBI probe into the alleged embezzlement.

Kumar had filed this PIL after the high court disposed of his earlier petition, seeking a CBI probe against the former DGP who allegedly misappropriated public money in the name of allotting SS funds to police officers for paying and rewarding spies.

The high court had disposed of the petition on August 28 last year, directing the state to initiate appropriate action by allotting the inquiry to an independent investigation agency. The state issued a notification on October 22, 2010, for a CBI probe.

Ram then moved a single bench against the notification, which sought further clearance from the Centre for a CBI inquiry into the disbursement of SS funds. The bench clamped a stay on the state notification on October 29 and directed the Centre to file an affidavit explaining its stand. The state too appeared before the single judge and said it had completed its part of the formalities for a CBI probe and that the matter now rested with the Centre.

Kumar and one Ram Subhag Singh filed two intervention pleas before the single judge. Both said they were the first to expose the scam. They pleaded that they be allowed to contest the case against Ram.

The high court, however, was not convinced with their arguments and the bench of Justice R.R. Prasad rejected both intervention petitions on December 1, 2010.

The division bench was today informed that Ram had obtained a stay from the court by suppressing material facts and that the intervention plea filed by Kumar had been rejected. It held that since the matter was already pending before the single judge, the case should be heard in detail, allowing Kumar to put forth his arguments against Ram.

The former DGP is facing charges of financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 8 crores, allocated under SS funds. The disbursement of money was to be done by Ram to his subordinate officers for paying spies in lieu of information and tip-offs. The disbursement to junior officers and to informers is kept a secret to secure the identity of informers.