Probe into well-organised syndicate which issued certificates of income/caste etc to the non-eligible persons from Tehsil office in Sambhal district revealed that the officials operating in RsSingle Window System’ at Sambhal had made signatures on forged documents and later the Thesildar also issued the documents.
The district magistrate of Sambhal, who get the above enquiry conducted on the orders of Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman, now claimed to have closed the Single Window System and recommended action against the thesil clerk but he spared the then Thesildar, Durga Shankar Gupta, now promoted and posted as Deputy Collector at Allahabad.
Interestingly, the DM also not recommended any action on the thesil officials who tried to misguide the Information Commissioner, Usman, claiming that the relevant documents were already burnt in the fire incident and that they also lodged a case in this regard. However, during enquiry, the same documents were produced which the officials claimed to have already burnt.
Reacting on the report of the Sambhal DM, Hafiz Usman, told The Pioneer here on Thursday afternoon that he had now ordered divisional commissioner of Moradabad, to get a criminal case registered against all the officials concerned and to initiate department proceedings after suspending the guilty.
Usman claimed that the DM Sambhal’s report sent to him mentioned that both then lekhpal, Madan lal and Revenue Inspector, Mufeed Hussain (now retired), denied that the signatures on the forged documents was made by them but the expert opinion confirmed that that Hussain had made the signatures. Similarly, the signatures of then Thesildar, Durga Shankar Gupta has been also established but while recording his statement, Gupta defended himself. He claimed that he signed the documents as it comes through RsSingle Window System’ and it was responsibility of the officials at SWS to verify the documents and than forward to him for his signature. Usman said that the DM is his report also supported Gupta’s statement and had held a clerk of SWS, Mahipal Singh responsible for not doing his duty of proper verification before forwarding the documents for final clearance. Usman said that the DM informed him that Mahipal was already suspended in the matter and as the forgery was made through SWS so that system has been also abolished.
It may be mentioned that one Saad Usmani, hailing from lodhi Sarai area of Sambhal, had brought to his notice about a Rssyndicate’ active in the district thesil office, which is issuing income/caste and other certificates to the persons who were not eligible for it. Complainant also disclosed that many persons had used their certificates in getting jobs particularly in the Health Department etc. Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman, claimed that he looked into the allegations and finding involvement of the Thesil officials, he ordered an enquiry.