Accused Include Politicians, Bureaucrats; Premises Of A Present Minister’s Kin Searched
New Delhi: The massive spread of the UP food grain diversion scam came to the fore when CBI told the Supreme Court that it has filed FIRs against over 2000 people, including politicians and public servants, during its investigations in just five places.
No other single scam in India’s history has seen registration of FIRs against so many persons and this could also be worrisome for the Akhilesh Singh Yadav government as the list includes a minister in his council. Those who looked after public distribution system and their associates during the BSP regime headed by Mayawati are also in the dock.
Responding to an application filed by advocate Vishwanath Chaturvedi, who alleged there was rampant diversion of food grains worth Rs 2 lakh crore in the state since the year 2002, CBI said it has already filed charge sheet against former Samajwadi Party MLA Om Prakash Gupta of Sitapur and has now searched premises of brothers of Vinod Kumar Singh aka Pandit Singh.
Vinod Kumar Singh was a minister in Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 2003 and is now a minister in Akhilesh Singh Yadav’s ministry.
The CBI said: “In the case pertaining to district Gonda, searches have been conducted in 14 places including the premises of Narendra Singh and Mahesh Singh, brothers of Vinod Kumar Singh alias Pandi Singh ex-minister of UP and 2 middlemen/financers have been arrested.”
“In Lucknow district, searches have been conducted at five places including Daljeet Singh, a transporter/financer, whose role has surfaced as the kingpin of food grain scam case,” the CBI said. Chaturvedi had alleged that CBI has not taked action against Daljeet Singh because of his proximity to Union ministers and UP Congress president.
Giving a district wise break up of the status of investigation, CBI said in Lahimpur Kheri it has filed FIRs against 500 accused but has arrested only nine, in Varanasi district FIRs name 1400 accused but no arrests, Gonda saw registration of FIR against 36 of which two were arrested, in Lucknow 30 have been named in the FIRs but no arrests have been made, while in Sitapur 57 have been named in the FIRs of which three including Om Prakash Gupta have been arrested.
Refuting Chaturvedi’s allegations, CBI said it has carried out and “undertakes to carry out investigations in a most scientific and professional manner, uninfluenced by the position of the suspects and accused. It said given the spread of the scam, it would take six more months to complete the investigations.”
The state government in its affidavit said the scam was being investigated by CBI, the Economic Offcences Wing and the Special Investigation Team and that this was a time consuming affair.
Chaturvedi had sought vacation of interim stay granted by the apex court on an appeal filed by the UP government against the Allahabad HC order directing prosecution without sanction in some cases and in others expeditious grant of sanction by the authorities against accused public servants.
IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY
PROBE STATUS
Lahimpur Kheri: FIRs filed against 500; only 9 arrested Varanasi: 1,400 named in FIR; no arrestGonda: FIR against 36; two arrested Lucknow:30 named in FIRs; no arrest made Sitapur: 57 named in FIRs; 3, including SP MLA Om Prakash Gupta, arrested
According to the CBI, given the spread of the scam, it would take six more months to complete the probe
No other single scam in the history of the country has seen the registration of FIRs against so many individuals
The scam could be a source of worry to the Akhilesh govt and those who managed PDS during the Mayawati regime
CBI has already searched the premises of the brothers of Vinod Kumar Singh, who is a minister in the Akhilesh cabinet.
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