Applications go missing from record

On Wednesday,the Lokayukta,who is investigating the matter on a complaint against Siddiqui lodged by journalist J N Shukla,summoned officials of the agriculture department,local administration and members of the committee that decided the criteria for selection of beneficiaries.

Shukla had alleged that Siddiqui influenced the allotment of subsidised farm equipment to his relatives and favourites.

During questioning,the officials failed to provide important documents and admitted that the applications were missing from the record. The Lokayukta has now summoned two clerks of the agriculture department who were handling the files on Monday.

Mehrotra told The Indian Express,“I began my inquiry today. I had summoned the Deputy Director of agriculture department at Banda,Chief Development Officer of Banda and two clerks who were involved in the planning of Krishi Yantrikaran ki Karyayojana (farm mechanisation project) under the Bundelkhand package.” Mehrotra said that despite the fact that one of the officers headed the selection committee,they failed to present basic records such as applications received under the scheme,and said that these were missing.

“It is surprising that none was ready to say who was responsible for these files. I have summoned some more officials for further probe,” Mehrotra said.

Sources said that officials only gave a list of beneficiaries to the Lokayukta and during questioning it was revealed that a large part of the fund released by the Centre for Bundelkhand had not been passed on to district agriculture office. “Hardly Rs 5.5 crore has been spent out of the Rs 61 crore allocated to the agriculture department for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012,” said an official.

Other allegations in Shukla’s complaint against Siddiqui and his wife Husna,who is an MLC,which are being investigated by the Lokayukta,include showing the price of prime agricultural land worth Rs 10 crore as Rs 43 lakh in order to evade stamp duty,using the land for non-agricultural purpose without changing the land use,and donations to an educational trust floated by Husna.