The chairman of Bhati Commission, which was constituted to investigate the alleged scam orchestrated during the BJP regime, KR Bhati resigned from his post on Monday. “Besides it, we have appointed Tripathi commission led by ex-IAS Sushil Kumar Tripathi and referred all the matters which were supposed to be enquired into by Bhati, with a deadline to complete all the investigation within next six months.” This was ascertained by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna while talking to The Pioneer during holi Milan programme organised by the Secretariat employees at Secretariat on March 25.
Sources said that he was under pressure since exposure of his connection with Congress MlA Subodh Uniyal.
Political analysts believe that with this development, BJP has got solid reason to smile and they will encash this incident in the upcoming local body election which is scheduled to happen in April.
The Pioneer had exposed Bhati’s connection with Congress MlA on March 23, in which it was mentioned that KR Bhati may face legal action because it has been established that Bhati has personal relations with Congress MlA Subodh Uniyal. Talking to The Pioneer MlA Uniyal had ascertained that ex-IAS Bhati is a friend of his younger brother Ravikant Uniyal and that he is living in the house owned by Bhati in Defence colony.
On Monday, MlA Uniyal said that Bhati was feeling upset with the absurd allegations made by ex-Cabinet Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and BJP, so he decided to quit the commission.
At the same time, he said that Bhati has resigned from the commission and the Government has appointed ex-IAS Sushil Kumar Tripathi to investigate the matters, which were assigned to the Bhati commission, so definitely guilty will be booked behind the bar in coming days.During budget session, ex-Minister Rawat had organised a rally and alleged that KR Bhati and Narendranagar MlA Subodh Uniyal have personal relation because latter resides in the house owned by Bhati.
Despite knowing the fact state government had constituted Bhati commission to enquire about the scams during BJP regime. As per the MlA’s claims that he along with his family reside in his house as tenant, which means MlA is paying rent for the accommodation.
Sources said that this exposure has given solid reason to the Opposition, which was consistently demanding CBI enquiry in alleged Rs 1,000 crore SIIDCUl land scam and did not allow house to run even a single day, may challenge Bhati commission in the court. They may also allege that Bhati has given his report under pressure from the State Government.
Sources said that KR Bhati said that he had bought the property by paying Rs 72 lakh. If it is true then Bhati will have to explain to Income Tax department about his source of the income. If he says that he purchased the land on behalf of MlA Uniyal or his brother, then he may face forgery case because in cooperative society you can’t buy land for others.
If he states that he gave the property to the MlA family on rent, then he will have to produce agreement, which happens between owner and tenant, and how much rent he is withdrawing against the property. If he manages to produce agreement letter between MlA family and himself then IT department may check whether he disclosed the income into this IT return. Even if Bhati manages to answer all the queries, then the Opposition will have another reason to smile that Government has used Bhati commission to malign the image of party.