The probe against cabinet minister Azam Khan took a new twist on Thursday, when the lokayukta Justice (Retd) NK Mehrotra, who was asked to investigate the matter regarding Jauhar Trust case, had now asked the complainant, social activist Nutan Thakur, to explain under which provisions, he (Mehrotra) could probe a matter pertaining to chief minister or taken by the Cabinet. Thakur was also asked to submit an affaidavit about her claims made on basis of than secretary (minority welfare), Devesh Chaturvedi.
Source said that Mehrotra, had issued notice to Nutan Thakur, mentioning that she had herself claimed in her complaint that decision regarding Jauhar Trust case was taken by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and that the state cabinet also gave it’s nod. Mehrotra, questioned Thakur that whose enquiry – Azam, Akhilesh Yadav or of the cabinet which took the decision, she wanted to make and also to tell the provisions which empowered lokayukta, to probe a case related to chief minister or a decision taken by Cabinet. Sources said that lokayukta could not made probe against chief minister or cabinet as provisions not allows him to do so.
Besides, Mehrotra also asked Thakur to submit an affidavit of than secretary of Minority Welfare Department, Devesh Chaturvedi, whom she mentioned in her complaint to have given information of Jauhar Trust case. Mehrotra directed Thakur to submit her reply by March 9 so they necessary decision of enquiry against Azam Khan could be taken. Interestingly, Mehrotra served above notice just a day after Thakur met him and requested to expedite the probe against Urban Development, Minority Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Azam Khan.
Earlier lodging a formal complaint before N K Mehrotra against Azam Khan, Nutan Thakur alleged that allotment of government land and building of Maulana Jauhar Ali Shodh Sansthan at Rampur to his private Maulana Jauhar Ali Trust, is a blatant disregard to the rules and regulations, without following the mandatory transparent process.
She alleged in her report that Azam Khan had pressurized the government authorities to grant 1500 sq 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 just Rs100, while completely ignoring the law formulated by the Supreme Court in identical matters of land allotment to Sourav Ganguli, Subhash Ghai and Kushabhai Thakare memorial Trust.
Dr Thakur said that the then Secretary, Dr 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. She has sought quashing of the above allotment order after enquiry, along with appropriate action against those found guilty.