Ritika
scam (symbolic)
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
The very next day after the tenure of the Nagar Panchayat President in Hathras’ Nagar Panchayat Sahpau ended, the then Executive Officer (EO) and the clerk attached to the Nagar Panchayat office, other employees, engineers and contractors, gave about one crore 30 lakh rupees to several firms for development works. In the matter of making irregular payments, a two-member inquiry committee has been constituted on the instructions of the DM.
The then Nagar Panchayat President Vipin Vashisht had alleged that as per the orders of the High Court and the Supreme Court, a three-member committee is constituted under the chairmanship of the DM after the term of the chairman expires. After this, this committee itself recommends any payment, but the accused have defied the orders of both the courts.
The tenure of the then chairman in Nagar Panchayat Sahapau ended on January 3. The very next day, on January 4, the development works were paid. In the case, former chairman Vipin Vashisht had complained by sending a letter to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Urban Development, Aligarh Commissioner and Hathras DM.
Now an inquiry committee has been constituted in this matter on the instructions of DM Archana Verma. ADM Finance and Revenue Basant Agarwal said that ADM Judicial Moinul Islam and Senior Treasury Officer have been nominated in the inquiry committee. After investigation, action will be taken against those found guilty in the case.
