CBI nod to probe top Maya aide, she may be next

‘‘This has the approval of the Chief Minister.’’ This was the precise noting in Hindi, by Mayawati’s Principal Secr...

‘‘This has the approval of the Chief Minister.’’ This was the precise noting in Hindi, by Mayawati’s Principal Secretary P.L. Punia, on the file that activated the controversial Taj project. And tonight, the CBI team camping there on orders of the Supreme Court got the go-ahead to question first Punia and, later, Mayawati.

Punia, an IAS officer of the UP cadre, is likely to be questioned by the CBI sleuths either late tonight or on Thursday morning. Officials say they have no doubt that the Principal Secretary, while making the crucial noting did indeed get Mayawati’s nod for the project. To strengthen their case, they will be obtaining a copy of the current Rules of Business, to show how the Chief Minister did not sign every file and that the Principal Secretary was authorised to convey her approval.

After obtaining Punia’s testimony, the CBI proposes to question Chief Secretary D S Bagga again on how the Rules of Business were being put in practice and on Punia translating the verbal orders of Chief Minister on file. CBI officials say it is only after they have collected the testimonies of all the key bureaucrats that they will question the outgoing Chief Minister herself.

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The agency is now also in the process of compiling a list of similar administrative approvals of the Chief Minister obtained by Punia and conveyed on file to the departments concerned. In the case of the Taj project, the file was put up to Punia by the Environment Minister, Nasimuddin Siddiqui and then sent back to the Environment Directorate.

While the politicians and bureaucrats involved in the Taj project are being questioned in Lucknow, the testimonies of officials from NPCC, who executed the works, are being recorded in Delhi.

By the end of the week, the CBI is expected to take stock and make an early draft of the final report they are to submit to the Supreme Court on or before September 11.

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