A case of large scale financial irregularities in the purchase of various items was registered against the Chairman and the Executive Officer of Ikauna Nagar Palika Parishad in Shrawasti on the orders of the lokayukta. Both the accused have been directed to appear before the lokayukta and clarify on December 21 before further legal action is initiated.
lokayukta Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra confirmed on Wednesday, “Yes, I got a case registered against Chairman Jitendra Kumar Gupta of Ikauna Palika Parishad and the Executive Officer on charges of irregularities. Further action will be initiated after they appear in my court and clarify.”
Sources claimed that a Shrawasti resident complained with the lokayukta alleging that Chairma of Ikauna Nagar Palika Parishad in cahoots with the Executive Officer siphoned off huge sums in the purchase of items in the 2013-14 fiscal.
The Parishad purchased a Kriloskar generator of 10KW for Rs 5.34 lakh, available in the open market at Rs 2.79 lakh. Similarly, 77 solar lights of Bajaj company was purchased at Rs 1,26,210 which is available for Rs 1,20,600. Besides, for the solar lights, panels of Aplex company was fiued and its cost was projected at Rs 32,000 per panel. The same is openly available for Rs 4200 per piece.
Besdies, 365 pieces of Sodium lights (250watts) were bought for Rs 8890 per piece whcih are available in open market for Rs 4500 per piece. likewise, 260 pieces of Sodium light (65watts) were procured at Rs 3990 per piece, against the open market price of Rs 1850 per piece. Also the Parishad purchased over 100 bundles of 10MM and 6mm cables at Rs 2200 and Rs 1450 respectively against the open market prices of Rs 1600 and Rs 1100 respectively.
The complainant also highlighted that the Parishad recently purchased Force Trumpet 40 Mines Dumper loader for Rs 12,20,900 from a lucknow showroom. However, the dumper of same capacity and company was available for just Rs 5,87,879 in BMS Motors at Kanpur. Besides, there were numerous items which were purchased at exorbitant prices during Chairman Jitendra Kumar Gupta’s regime pointing towards large scale irregularities.