lokayukt Justice (Retd), N K Mehrotra move ahead with filing of two more special reports with Governor, Ram Naik, against former ministers, Rajesh Tripathi and Badshah Singh, after state government fails to act against them on charges of corruption and disproportionate assets case. Interestingly, Badshah Singh, was already in jail in a separate case of bungling. Reports said that Mehrotra received complaints that Muktipad Sewa Sansthan (MSS), chairman, Rajesh Tripathi, who was than also minister of state for Homeopathy and Religious Endowment in Mayawati’s government was illegally collecting Rs 100 to 150 on each body, which comes for cremation at crematorium in Chilupar under Barhalganj town in Gorakhpur. The extortion was made in the name of registration.
Surprisingly the land also not belongs to above society but owned by the Narcotic department of Central government. Sources said after appearing before lokayukt during probe few years back, the minister offered to resign from the chairmanship of the society. NK Mehrotra claimed that though the minister denied any financial irregularities by the Sansthan and claimed that money were taken from the people coming to the crematorium as a token of support to maintain the place. However, earlier before the lokayukt, the secretary of the society had admitted that Rs 100 to Rs 150 were charged for each bodies as registration fee for cremation. The lokayukt had taken strong exception on the society to collect money for cremation, which is headed by a state minister.’’ How can a society collect funds from using a land of central government,’’ the lokayukt questioned. The charges against the minister says that he in the name of the Society was running a business at the crematorium and was expected to construct a five star hotel and was also engaged in smuggling of tortoise. Tripathi denied all the charges and said that he was in social work for last several years and his political opponents were trying to malign his image. However, later on report of Mehrotra,Mayawati removed him from her ministry. Now after waiting for further action, Mehrorta, sent a Special Report to the Governor on Tuesday morning, reportedly requesting him to seek Action Taken Report (ATR) in the matter from Government and produce it in the floor of the State Assembly. It may be mentioned that journalist-turned politician Rajesh Tripathi has won for the first time in the state assembly on the BSP ticket and had defeated seasoned politician Harishanker Tiwari from Chilupar seat in the 2007 elections.
Meanwhile Mehrorta also sent a similar special report against former labour Minister in the Mayawati’s government, Badshah Singh, to the governor, Ram Naik. During probe against Badshah Singh, Mehrorta found that Badshah Singh aka Ramendra Singh, his wife Ratna Singh, manager of a college which was constructed illegally, Rajendra Pratap Singh aka Gyan Singh, along with member Ritaraj Singh (Rajendra’s son) all were found having earn huge wealth through dubious means. Government, earlier already sanctioned permission to prosecute them under Section 447/448/120B and Section 13(1)C and 13(1) D read with Section 13(2) of Anti-Corruption Act-1988. It was established during probe that Badshah Singh had used his `position’ to make illegal favour to his family members. He allotted many prime government lands on national highways. Not only this, it was also found that he grabbed agriculture land in Kharela locality of Mahoba in which he constructed a school in the name of father, late Sri Rameshwar ``Babu Rameshwar Singh Mahavidyalya”. Not only this, he illegally transferred his MlA and MP Fund meant for development of the area. Interestingly, government also ordered to make a recovery of Rs 25.50 lakh from Badshah Singh and his family members.