Uttar Pradesh Congress demanded a probe by sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation into the complaint of corruption by state mining minister, Gyatri Prajapati, who alleged to have made huge wealth after he became minister. “One would not expect a fair and speedy probe from lokayukt, as the matter was concerned with a senior minister who is very close to chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav”, disclosed spokesman of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC), Siddharth Priya Srivastava.
Demanding a CBI probe into the matter, Srivastava, while talking to media persons here on Wednesday evening alleged that Prajapati is using his position to save himself and even Akhilesh Yadav, is sitting silence so far instead of immediately removing the tainted minister so that a fair probe could be made in the matter.
“When lokayukt could not even serve a notice to Prajapati or his family members to seek their explanation in the matter, it was almost evident that the accused were taking advantage of their position in the Government”, Srivastava asserted. “lokayukt, should use the provisions made under the lokayukt Act 1977, and take help of CBI in this regard so that a fair probe could be made and Prajapati and his family members should be punished if found guilty”, he added.
Meanwhile, lokayukt, Justice (retd) NK Mehrortra, reportedly issue a letter to district magistrate of Amethi, directing him to ensure that summon, served against District Supply Officer (DSO) of Amethi, has been served. The DSO was reportedly summoned by Mehrotra said that he would give in writing that whether Prajapati, his family members or others like Gudda (female friend of Prajapati) had a ration card of Below Poverty line (BPl) and that whether they continued to hold it or when it was cancelled.
The move was reportedly made as it was alleged that Prajapati, and his family members who come under BPl family just before the last Assembly elections, had now made property worth several crores of rupees. Sources also said that a Samajwadi Party leader from Ferojabad, Meena Rajpui, also submitted a complaint with lokayukt, alleging of illegal mining in her district and demanding a probe into the matter. However, sources confirmed that lokayukt, reportedly directed her to submit complaint on proper format by next Wednesday, so cognizance could be made on her allegations.
Earlier the probe pointed that Prajapati, had reportedly pumped in money to purchase land in the name of one of the companies RsMGA Colonisers’after the Samajwadi Party came to power in 2012. Sources confirmed that one Pappu Yadav, whose name was shown as purchaser on behalf of MGA Colonisers in the 0.975 hectare land (Khasra No : 185 at Ardauna Mau in Ambedkarnagar district) deal made on August 6, 2012, reportedly denied that he had any direct involvement. Sources said that denying that he was in any way connected to the MGA Colonisers, Pappu Yadav had reportedly recorded his statement claiming that as he was just having relation with Gyatri Prajapati so the later asked him that he was busy and authorised him to go and complete the formalities on his behalf, so he went during registry of the said land.
He also claimed that Rs 15 lakh cheque given in the deal as advance has been also provided to him by Prajapati and that he was not aware whether any further payment has been made in the case or not. Interestingly like Pappu Ydav, two more land deals have been made in similar way in the name of Hari Ram and Vikas. Now, after the above disclosure, lokayukt, Justice (retd) NK Mehrortra, who is investigating the matter likely to question Prajapati that from where he did he gave the above money for registry of land.