Lokayukta sends notice to Siddiqui

The complaint has been filed by Vinay Mishra from Allahabad. Mishra has accused Siddiqui of neglecting rules to favour liquor baron Ponty Chadha’s company. According to Mishra’s complaint,Blue Water Limited was given the work of liquor distribution by the Sugar Industry department in a joint venture with UP Co-operative Sugar Factories Federation in 2007,in violation of the excise policy. He has alleged that the state exchequer suffered loss of crores of rupees as the distribution of liquor remained with only companies run by Chadha during the last four years.

However,the Lokayukta is only probing into the violation of excise policy in 2007. He said that policy decisions taken after 2007-08 have been challenged in the Allahabad High Court and have been also upheld by the court.

The Lokayukta is investigating two more complaints against Siddiqui pertaining to disproportionate assets,and influencing the distribution of Centre’s Bundelkhand package and mining contracts in Banda and Mahoba districts.