lokayukt Justice (retired), NK Mehrorta, took strong note of delay made by sleuths of the Vigilance Establishment in probing charges against former minister in BSP Government, Ram Achal Rajbhar, and had reportedly dispatched a `special report’ to governor, Ram Naik on Friday.
Requesting to take necessary action in the matter, Mehrorta, asked Ram Naik to instruct the state government that they should put the Action Taken Report (ATR) in the State Assembly in connection with probe against Rajbhar.
``It was almost one and half year now that the Vigilance Establishment, the premiere investigating agency of the State to probe charges of corruption, had almost done nothing regarding probe of charges of disproportionate assets case against Rajbhar’, asserted Mehrotra alleging that it would give a wrong picture about the agency in the minds of public and it also indicates that a concentrated efforts have been made to give benefit to the accused.
Mehrorta claimed that a probe by him on two different complaints made against Rajbhar, on illegal incomes made by him, his family members and also through trust formed by the said former minister, pointed that even in the Income Tax Return for the period of 2007-10, Rajbhar had shown on record that he had invested over Rs 5.89 crore more than all known resources of his, his family members and even his trust. He said that similarly, in the trust `Ram Awadh Foundation Trust’ formed by Ram Achar Rajbhar in the name of his father, he had shown an income of more than Rs 27.91 lakhs. However, when he gone through the donation through which the above income was shown, he found that none of the donation makers exists pointing that money earned through illegal means has been shown collected as donation. Mehrotra said that he found enough evidences pointing that Rajbhar could be easily trialed under DA case after booking him under Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mehrotra also said that even as minister in the Transport Department, Rajbhar was not entitled to allot any tenders for work but still during probe, he found that number of lucrative contracts have been awarded at behest of Ram Achal Rajbhar, pointing towards large corruption. Mehrotra said that on March 13, last year, he sent the report against Rajbhar to chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, recommending to register a case against him in the matter. He claimed that on March 25, Akhilesh forwarded the matter to Vigilance Establishment for necessary action but unnecessary delay has been made by the agency in taking action against the former minister. He said that finding no other way, he decided to sent a special report to governor so a Action Taken Report in the matter could be put in the State Assembly.