Welcoming the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat’s stern stance against corruption irrespective of the stature of the person guilty, the representatives of Garhwal MP Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, Matbar Singh Negi and Vinod Sachdeva have asked the Chief Minister to initiate legal action against the Pauri municipality chairman Yashpal Benam who was allegedly found guilty of corruption.
The duo stated that Benam had been found guilty of alleged financial irregularities and misuse of funds as the chairman of the Pauri municipal council in the probe report of the Pauri District Magistrate and Garhwal Commissioner submitted to Uttarakhand Government about nine months ago. It has been alleged by the concerned local citizens and those who complained against Benam that no action had been taken against the municipal council chairman purportedly due to the then chief minister and the then urban development minister with the urban development secretary also not initiating any action against him and others. The MP’s representatives Negi and Sachdev have demanded that till action is taken against Benam, the financial power of the municipal council chairman should be seized and the special audit of the municipal council should be ordered for the period under the tenure of Benam.
The public of the Pauri town, Vyapar Sabha including those who had complained against the alleged financial irregularties and misuse of municipal fund allege that the previous Congress-led State Government had intended to put a lid on this matter in order to shield the Pauri municipal council chairman Benam, who had been found prima facie guilty in the report of the Garhwal Commissioner.
Vinod Sachdev, who is also a nominated member of Pauri municipal council said that he had submitted a complaint to former chief minister Harish Rawat during his visit to Pauri in the month of November previous year, accusing the Pauri municipal council chairman of corruption. Sachdev said that all the construction works are being undertaken without the proposal for the same being passed by the Municipal council board. He goes on further and demands that the financial power of the municipal council president should be suspended in addition to which a special audit should be conducted of the municipal council at least for the period during the tenure of Benam.
It is pertinent to mention that Uttarakhand State Urban development department secretary had sent a show cause notice to Pauri Municipal council chairman Benam earlier in September 2016, asking a written statement in 15 days in connection with the inquiry report of the alleged misuse of municipal funds by him and others. The inquiry report stated that Benam and then two executive officers RP Semwal and Darban Singh Rana were found prima facie involved in financial irregularties and misuse of funds.
It remains to be seen whether any action is taken in this case by the BJP Government or whether political motives dominate the regulations.