Horticulture probe to be expedited

Earlier, Opposition members including Opposition leader Mallikarjun M Kharge, BJP floor leader KS Eshwarappa supported Congress member A T Ramaswamy in his demand for a CBI probe.

They expressed dissatisfaction with Horticulture Minister D T Jayakumar8217;s earlier reply that the CBI inquiry could be considered if the Lok Ayukta report in the matter proved unsatisfactory. Since the Lok Ayuktha was already 10 to 11 months into its investigation he said it would be preferable to await its report before demanding further investigations. Hehowever promised to have the investigations by the Lok Ayukta expedited.

Earlier, raising the matter, Ramaswamy drew the members attention to the case which involved the misappropriation of over Rs 5 crore by an Horticulture assistant Pandit Moola at an 80-acre government fruit farm at Narayanapura in Gulbarga district. The official who was placed under suspension in December 1996 for fraudulent withdrawals to the tune of over Rs 1.9 crore, had previously been elevated to the status of assistant director of Horticulture with powers to make withdrawals, in violation of the rules, implying the collusion of higher-ups in the department, he said.

His suspension following the Comptroller and Auditor General8217;sCAG report, was revoked a month-and-a-half later and the official was reinstated in the same post by virtue of a letter of recommendation from the Chief Minister, which was subsequently found to be a forged one. And within a month of his reinstatement he had further misappropriated a sum of Rs.3.90crore, taking the total to over Rs.5 crore, Ramaswamy pointed out.

He also pointed to various procedure lapses that were likely to have facilitated the fraud, such as the submission of the audit report much after the inspection team had visited the farm instead of within a fortnight as stipulated by the rules.

Ramaswamy8217;s demand that it be referred to the CBI was made in the context of the charge that 8220;the state8217;s highest authority was involved8221; in it and hence the Loy Ayukta would be inadequate in dealing with it.

Minister Jayakumar said that the matter had already been raised in the Upper House and even here by Congress legislator U R Sabhapathy previously. But the matter of Mallanna8217;s murder was a fresh piece of information to the government which was not aware of it.

He denied that the government was shielding anyone, nor that it had anything to hide, since 8220;I myself had kept him the official in suspension8221;. 8220;The fraud was committed in 1994 and we came to power in 1995. But it was we whohave referred the case to the Lok Ayukta, so you must commend us,8221; he added.

His reinstatement had merely been because it was thought at the time that it was recommended by the CM. However, Jayakumar said his suspicions regarding the official, had been roused when he insisted that he be reinstated in the same post and before the end of the financial year ending March 31, 1997.