Social activist Nutun Thakur replied to the objection raised by lokayukta Justice (Retd) N K Mehrotra on her petition against the Urban Development and Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azam Khan.
She refused to reveal her `source’ who facilitated the information in the matter but advised the state Ombudsman that the truth could be easily confirmed through `note sheet’ on the file related to the case. However, Azam is likely to get relief in the matter as sources confirmed that the prevailing rules under the lokayukta Act does not give power to State Ombudsman, to summon a file related to cabinet decision.
Reports said the lokayukta had directed Nutan to present the names and affidavit of persons who informed her of the facts. He also asked her to name persons other than Azam Khan against whom she wanted enquiry. In her reply filed on Wednesday afternoon, Thakur claimed to have informed Mehrotra that some junior officers of Minority Affairs Department had given her the information on plea of anonymity and she cannot tell these names because it will jeopardise their safety and would prove harmful to them in the future as the accused were bigwigs. She said instead of looking for officers’ names, the facts can be much easily verified by summoning the file where all the facts are already registered in the `note sheet’.
The reply pertains to a complaint filed by the activist last month. She alleged that the move to allot government land and building of Maulana Jauhar Ali Shodh Sansthan at Rampur for Azam Khan’s Maulana Jauhar Ali Trust was a ‘’blatant’’ disregard to the rules and regulations’ without following the mandatory transparent process. The complaint further alleges that Azam Khan pressurised the government authorities to grant 1500 square yard government land and building built at the cost of Rs 9.83 crores to his private trust for 30 years lease for a nominal annual rent of Rs 100, while completely ignoring the law formulated by the Supreme Court.
The complainant even claimed that the then Secretary, Devesh Chaturvedi had strongly opposed this move calling it a case of direct conflict of interest after which he was removed from the post and the government machinery was forced to get this ‘’illegal’’ order passed. Thakur said she has sought quashing of the allotment order after enquiry, along with appropriate action against those found guilty. Governor, Ram Naik had also objected on the procedure to hand over the government building to a private trust where a public school is being operated at present. She said other than Azam Khan, the role of Minority affairs secretary S P Singh should also be enquired.