Trying to take advantage of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ongoing crackdown on mafias and criminals by running bulldozer over their illegal properties, a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Moradabad issued order to bulldoze the house of a furniture shop owner as the latter asked him to make his payments.
However, his move proved costly for the SDM as after learning of misuse of power by the officer, the state government placed him under suspension and also ordered a departmental probe against him.
It is alleged that the SDM had bought furniture worth Rs 2.67 lakh from the showroom of one Zahid Hasan and when he was asked to make payment, the officer ordered demolition of his house terming it 'illegal'.
The accused officer was identified as Ghanshyam Verma.
Sources said that a probe has been set up by Commissioner Anjay Kumar Singh against the SDM. The preliminary probe has found the SDM guilty and based on that District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh has removed Ghanshyam Verma from the post of Billari SDM. The area where the furniture trader's house was ordered to be demolished comes under Billari Nagar Palika.
SDM Ghanshyam Verma also had the charge of Executive Officer of Billari Nagar Palika. However, he passed the order under the powers of SDM.
It is alleged that the SDM went out of his jurisdiction and handed a notice to the furniture trader to teach him a lesson. It is alleged that when ADM Surendra Singh started his probe into the allegation, he asked Ghanshyam Verma not to take any action in the case. However, SDM Ghanshyam Verma went ahead and ordered demolition of the house of Zahid Hasan by bulldozer.
On July 7, Zahid Hasan had approached the district magistrate and filed a complaint against SDM Ghanshyam Verma alleging that he did not pay Rs 2.67 lakh for the furniture purchased from him and ordered bulldozer action when he was asked to make payment for the furniture he purchased.