CAG officer Vishal Desai suspended amid corruption and sexual harassment allegations
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Senior Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) officer Vishal Desai has been suspended following serious allegations of corruption, sexual harassment, and misconduct.
The suspension, confirmed by sources within the CAG, was issued on November 19, 2024, after an investigation by The Probe highlighted how Desai was transferred to an overseas position despite the mounting complaints against him.
Desai, previously serving as Director (Personnel) in Delhi, was accused of multiple offenses, including sexual harassment, embezzlement, bribery, and unauthorized travel. These complaints, reportedly made by a group of CAG employees, were initially communicated to the Prime Minister’s Office in December 2023. Additional allegations surfaced eight months later in a detailed email alleging Desai’s efforts to suppress the accusations against him.
A senior officer reviewing the matter deemed the allegations credible enough to warrant an inquiry, emphasizing the importance of a transparent investigation to either exonerate Desai or substantiate the charges.
Despite the gravity of the complaints, Desai was appointed as Director in the CAG’s Principal Director of Audit office in London, where he assumed charge on September 6, 2024. This decision raised questions about accountability within the organization. However, on October 23, 2024, the CAG abruptly recalled Desai, citing administrative reasons, and reassigned him as Senior Deputy Accountant General in Jaipur.
In response to the allegations, Desai denied all charges, attributing them to “internal politics” within the organization.
The CAG has since launched a formal inquiry into the allegations. A three-member panel comprising S. Alok, Director General of Audit (Defence Services); Roli S. Malge, Accountant General (New Delhi); and Sreeraj Ashok, Senior Deputy Accountant General (Bhubaneswar), has been appointed to oversee the investigation. Notably, Ashok received an overseas posting to Nairobi on November 11, further complicating the inquiry’s logistics.
The CAG clarified that Desai’s overseas assignment had been planned before the complaints were formally received. However, as the allegations gained traction, the decision was made to recall him to ensure a transparent and fair investigation.
“Numerous serious allegations required his presence in India for a free and fair inquiry,” a CAG spokesperson stated.
