Another inquiry into Taj scam

The Uttar Pradesh government today constituted another inquiry into the multi-crore Taj Expressway scam. The probe has been ordered under th...

The Uttar Pradesh government today constituted another inquiry into the multi-crore Taj Expressway scam. The probe has been ordered under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet presided over by CM Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Briefing newspersons, Chief Secretary V.K. Mittal said a two-member inquiry committee would be formed to probe the scam. He said the names of the members will include one person from the judiciary and would be announced in next two days.

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The constitution of the second probe follows the decision of the Allahabad High Court which had quashed the report of the S.R. Mishra probe committee. The Mishra committee probe report had been quashed on the ground that the other party (which had been given the contract) had not been given the opportunity to present its case.

Mittal said the terms of reference of the new two-member probe team would be the same as that of the Mishra committee. These pertains to the formulation of the Expressway plan and whether or not transparency was followed in awarding the bids and executing project.

The expressway which is related to building a six-lane highway from Noida Toll Bridge to Agra was conceived during Mayawati’s regime. The dismissal of her government brought an abrupt end to the construction activities.