Cash-for-job scam: UP man complains against Speaker

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22

In an alleged cash-for-job scam in the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Surinder, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, today submitted a complaint seeking an FIR against Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar, his brother Ashok and others for duping them of Rs 44 lakh for appointing four children of the family as peons or clerks. The complaint was received by ADGP (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil at the Police Headquarters in Panchkula. He said that a similar case was under investigation by the Crime Branch and an inquiry would be conducted in this complaint as well.

Fearing for his life, the complainant, after meeting the senior police officer, said that he was regularly threatened by masked men to keep quiet or face the consequences. “This case began when the BJP just came to power in Haryana. We were approached through an acquaintance with the offer of a peon or a clerk in the Assembly Secretariat.

Middleman Baljeet was known to the Speaker and his brother. The going rate was Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh, respectively. My brother and I decided to pay the amount for each of our sons. We were again approached for more people keen on the job. Then my third brother paid for his son and I paid the amount for my second son,” alleged Surinder. Maintaining that the payment was made in two instalments of Rs 24 lakh and 20 lakh, Surinder further claimed that the Speaker had directed them to meet Ashok, his younger brother. “He accepted the cash of the second instalment and assured us that the jobs would be ours.

A deadline of November 1, 2015, was set for the joining. This was extended by a few months owing to a stay from the court on recruitment. After repeated queries, we were told that the joining would take place on November 1, 2016, and we were shown lists finalised for the job in the Secretariat. However, nothing happened. Meanwhile, Baljeet, who had accepted the first instalment committed suicide and one of my brothers was named accused on the basis of his statement,” he Surinder. In his dying declaration, Baljeet alleged that about a couple of years ago, he had collected Rs 93.15 lakh from some youths and handed the money to Ram Nath of Naraiangarh, who promised jobs as he was “suitably connected”.

Ruing the loss of money and the unfulfilled job commitment, Surinder said that they even asked for return of their money which had not been done. “On top of it, we are being pressurised to keep silent, failing which we would be killed. The entire sequence of events leads directly to the Speaker’s doorstep and we want justice,” the complainant stated.

OPEN TO ANY KIND OF PROBE: GUJJAR

“This is a conspiracy to malign me and the truth will come out soon. I am open to any kind of inquiry, including that by the CBI or a sitting or retired judge, since this is not about Kanwar Pal but about the Speaker. Also, I want it to be held without delay so that the guilty can be brought to book. Further, the complainant, I don't know who he is or where he has come from, should produce some kind of evidence to substantiate his claims of being threatened.” Kanwar Pal Gujjar, VIDHAN SABHA SPEAKER