SIT to probe graft charges against UP ministers’ staff

Tribune News Service

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Lucknow, December 27

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe corruption charges against the private secretaries of three ministers of his government.

Suspending the three secretariat employees, the CM also ordered the lodging of FIRs against them. Lucknow Zone ADG Rajiv Krishna heads the SIT that has been asked to complete the recording of evidence and submit report within 10 days.

The other members of the SIT are IG Special Task Force (STF) and senior personnel of the Vigilance Department. Special Secretary (IT) Rakesh Verma has been asked to assist the SIT.

During a sting operation by a private channel in the Vidhan Sabha office of the three ministers, their private secretaries were caught on camera fixing deals in what appears to be a massive transfer and posting racket.

It includes the private secretary of minister for backward classes welfare and disabled persons development, BJP ally and president of Suheldev Bharitya Samaj party Om Prakash Rajbhar.

The other two private secretaries are that of the Minister of State for Mining, Excise And Prohibition Archana Pandey and Minister of State for Basic, Secondary, Higher, Professional and Medical Education Sandeep Singh who happens to be the grandson of Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh.