With Mining Minister, Gyatri Prajapati, already replying to queries put before him by lokayukt, he get some relief after Block Development Officer of Amethi Ram Asheesh, revealed that minister’s name appeared in BPl list but not in the BPl Card holder list. However, his family members names is present in both the lists.
Sources said that Ram Asheesh appeared before lokayukt (Retd) Justice NK Mehrotra, and disclosed that BPl list has been made in 2002 in which Gyatri Prajapati’s name was present at serial number 15404 but in the BPl card holders list made in 2005-06, his name was not there. He said that since than, both the list were not revised. He also disclosed that the names of brothers of Gyatri Prajapati- Chedhi Ram, Jagdish Prasad, Ram Shankar and Shree Ram’s were present in both the lists. He said that except for Ram Shanker, the other three brothers submitted an application earlier this month to get their names deleted from the list, but he could not do anything as he was not empowered to make any changes.
Social activist, Dr Nutan Thakur, who was also a complainant in the case, also claimed to have presented important evidence related with mining syndicate before Mehrotra on Wednesday. She said to have provided details of the improprieties contained in the Government order dated 22 October 2014 against the directions of Supreme Court and Allahabad High Court. The information contained facts about important members of the syndicate- Ramesh Mishra from Hamirpur, Vijay Gupta from Jalaun and BSP MlC Mohammad Iqbal from Saharanpur. Facts about rampant illegal mining in these districts were also presented. She claimed that among the key aids of Prajapati, information about Pawani Developers Pvt ltd and Vaishno Infraheight Pvt ltd related with Vikas Verma was provided by her. Similarly, details about luxury cars of another close aid Pintu Singh and his purchase of plots in Vikas Khand, Gomti Nagar and Pinewood Simplex Villa were also provided. Among the key officials of mining department, names of Surveyor Ramnath Yadav from Sonebhadra and mining officer Rajkumar Sangam from Jalaun were also given. She also claimed threat to her and her husband’s life.
Besides, Mining Secretary, Gurdeep Singh also reportedly replied to two queries of Mehrortra regarding amendments made in mining rules and under what conditions mining officer of Jalaun, Raj Kumar has been first suspended and later immediately reinstated. Sources said that in the reply, the officer tried to justify government action claiming that initially he was suspended as he was not empowered to give lease of land for mining at his level but later, when the policy regarding the above has been changed (by making amendment in Mining Act), the officer could do so, hence he was reinstated. lokayukt, reportedly now sought a query about the Government Order making above amendment. Interestingly, the officer did not reply that how an officer when found guilty of allotting lease, could be later found innocent when the rules than not empowered him to do so. The said officer along with district magistrate of Jalaun had provided mining lease (68 acres in Gram Simriya in Orai Thesil, 30 acres in Kahta Hamirpur and 50 acres in Behdi Khurdh both in Kalpi thseil) to one Karn Singh.
Sources said that Mehrotra is now going through the replies sent by minister Gyatri Prajapati in his defense and case is likely to be register very soon in the matter. It may be mentioned that Prajapati had submitted his reply regarding to three queries sent to him by Mehrotra regarding complaint made by Om Shankar Dwivedi, Nutan Thakur and Yashwant.