Another Maya minister under Vigilance scanner

The government sent a letter to Mehrotra on Monday,saying it had recommended a probe by Vigilance against Rajbhar according to the Lokayukta’s recommendation.

In his report,sent to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on March 14,the Lokayukta had recommended a probe by the CBI,Vigilance Establishment or Anti-Corruption Organisation against Rajbhar for allegedly acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by misusing his office as a minister in the Mayawati government.

The Lokayukta had indicted Rajbhar for buying properties worth crores of rupees without explaining the source of income and for interfering in the functioning of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. While recommending Rajbhar’s prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act,Mehrotra had said that Rajbhar,his brothers Ram Sakal and Ramkaran,his sons Ajay Kumar and Sanjay Kumar,and his daughters-in-law Chandravati Devi and Kanchan Rajbhar had bought 51 pieces of land in Ambedkar Nagar district between 2006-07 and 2010-11. The Lokayukta’s report said while the total sale consideration of these properties was found to be Rs 1.42 crore,their actual cost as per circle rate was Rs 10.33 crore and Rajbhar had not been able to give satisfactory answer about the source of money.