Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday gave approval to the proposal of Anti-Corruption Bureau starting a Preliminary Enquiry in the blanket purchase irregularities by Jharcraft from Panipat, Haryana. Former CEO of Jharcraft Renu Gopinath Pannikar, Deputy General Manager Mohammad Neesam Akhtar and Chief Financial Officer Ashok Thakur have been named as accused in the matter.
It is to be known that in the light of the detailed investigation into the irregularities in blanket procurement by Jharcraft by the Department of Industries and recommending the requisite action against the accused, the CM has given this direction.
Under this, the Government will submit such cases for preliminary investigation to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which will include charges of criminal misuse of office and corruption against public servants.
Meanwhile, the ACB on Monday late night lodged a preliminary enquiry against senior official of the State government Gopal Ji Tiwari on instruction of the CM for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets. As per the rule if allegations are found true during preliminary inquiry; a regular case will be lodged against him.
Notably, Soren had appointed Tiwari as his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) who is also joint secretary of the road construction department. But, about a fortnight back
Tiwari requested CM to relieve him as OSD after he apparently came to know that CM has received complaints about his alleged disproportionate assets and CM has made-up his mind to get the complaint probed.
Action was taken after senior lawyer of Jharkhand High Court Rajiv Kumar met Soren on June 18 and submitted documentary evidences about the properties raised by Tiwari while misusing his office during his service period. Tiwari is the official of the State administrative service.
“I apprised-off CM of disproportionate assets worth around Rs 21.55 crore raised by the official and requested a probe,” Kumar said.
Tiwari is accused of making huge investments in purchasing land housing properties.
In the past he was accused of undertaking foreign trip without permission of the state government and he was indicted by the assembly committee.
The lawyer accused Tiwari was instrumental behind the formation of a company Kingsley developers where his son is a partner. The office of the company is situated at Ashok Nagar in Ranchi.
The land measuring 136 decimal worth Rs 9.5 crore was purchased on the name of the company at Morabadi.