Lokayukta for action against Samalkha ex-MC chief, secy
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, December 30
Acting on a complaint lodged in 2015, Lokayukta Justice NK Aggarwal has recommended strict action against the then chairperson Sumitra Sharma, secretary Shyam Sunder Duggal and municipal engineer Jaswant Singh of the Samalkha Municipal Committee for alleged embezzlement, dereliction of duties and for corruption.
In the order dated December 3, Aggarwal ordered departmental action against the trio, recovery of the lost revenue from the erring officers and then chairperson and sought the action taken report within three months.
RTI activist PP Kapoor had complained to the Lokayukta on September 24, 2015, alleging that the officials and chairperson employed 13 sanitary workers without legal authority and paid them salary. It was also alleged that they allotted tenders to contractors by accepting a bribe of Rs2.30 crore without work orders.
Development funds worth crores were also alleged to have been misappropriated during Sharma’s tenure. It was further alleged that her family members illegally constructed a banquet hall ‘Utsav Green’ on land measuring 5,200 square yards by showing only 500 square yards land in the site plan. Illegal construction was alleged at Maharaja Aggarsain Market.
Following the complaint, the Lokayukta ordered an inquiry into the matter to Director, ULB Department. Gaurav Kumar, the then Samalkha SDM, found the allegation true following which Registrar, Lokayukta, Manjeet Singh Sullar corroborated the allegations and recommended a vigilance probe in its report on February 15, 2017. On the basis of the inquiry reports, the Lokayukta found the trio guilty of dereliction of duty.
