Govt not cooperating in probe against two ministers: Lokayukta

“I have also issued a notice to Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh seeking to know whether the UP chief minister has taken cognizance of the complaints and ordered an inquiry or referred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for action. If the government has referred the complaint to an investigation agency,then I will not proceed on my investigation as two inquiries cannot be held in one case,” said the Lokayukta adding “the government has so far not responded to the notice”.

He said either both the ministers should deny charges or the CM says that the complaint is being investigated into. “I know the ministers do not have moral courage to deny the charges. They can only adopt all possible tricks to delay the investigation,” he said.

According to the complaints received by the Lokayukta,Rangnath Mishra faces the charges of misappropriating funds from the MLA’s funds,making unauthorised appointments in government-run secondary schools and taking bribe for granting recognition to schools. On the other hand,Rakesh Dhar Tripathi faces the charges of acquiring huge property in civil lines area of Allahabad in the last over three years after becoming the minister in the Mayawati government in May 2007.

The complaint against the two ministers was filed by Ramlali Mishra,chairperson of the Sant Kabir Nagar district panchayat and one Swami Nath Mishra. Ramlali Mishra is wife of Samajwadi Party MLA Vijar Mishra,from Gyanpur.

The Lokayukta is also conducting an inquiry in one more complaint filed against Rangnath Mishra by a retired district inspector of schools (DIOS),Adarsh Mishra,who was placed under suspension a few days before her retirement.

“My organisation is affected by the reluctance of the complainant to depose against the minister on an affidavit. Adarsh Mishra has said in a written complaint that she was forced by the minister to process the application of recognising a private school only after taking a certain amount as bribe. But the officer is unwilling to say the same on the affidavit,” said the Lokayukta. He said he will visit several districts to investigate into the matter.

“When people like Ratan Tata and Baba Ramdev are not willing to reveal the names of the minister who asked for bribe from them,then how can you expect an officer of the level of DIOS and school manager of a private school to depose against a cabinet minister on an affidavit,” said Mehrotra.