Recommending action against yet another member of the Mayawati government,Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta has sought removal of Secondary Education Minister Rangnath Misra following a probe into disproportionate assets charges against him. Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra,in his report sent to Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday,said the inquiry has found Misra guilty of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income as well as illegal possession of gram sabha land. The Lokayukta said after submitting his report that he has recommended lodging of a case against the minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act and an inquiry either by CBI or by Vigilance Department. In another case against Misra,the Lokayukta has recommended punitive action against him in connection with the gram sabha land possession case. Pending further action,Justice Mehrotra said he has recommended that the minister be removed from his post. The complaint in this regard had been filed by an advocate from Bhadohi,Swami Prasad Misra. Earlier,Avadhpal Singh Yadav had to resign as state's Animal Husbandry Minister in August following a similar recommendation by the Lokayukta in connection with corruption and criminal cases against him. Rajesh Tripathi,Minister of State for Religious Endowment and Homeopathy,was sacked in December last on the Lokayukta's recommendations. Tripathi was holding the post in his NGO along with his ministerial portfolio. Apart from this,he was charged with being involved in land grabbing cases.
