*Report forwarded to SVO for in-depth probe
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 14: Housing and Urban Development Department has forwarded the report of three member committee into Rs 27.60 crore scam in J&K Housing Board to the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) for in-depth probe.
This was revealed by Inspector General of Police, State Vigilance Organization (SVO), Alok Puri in a fresh status report submitted in the High Court today.
Vide Communication No.HUD/LIT/68-AF/2014 dated July 5, 2016 the Housing and Urban Development Department has forwarded the copy of the report of 3 member inquiry committee to the State Vigilance Organization for in-depth probe, the status report said.
The IGP Vigilance further divulged that the report of the inquiry committee reveals administrative lapses and procedural deviations, besides pointing out that precious reserves of the J&K Housing Board have been depleted arbitrarily by overstepping the mandate and jurisdiction without any plan/provisions for augmenting the loss.
However, the committee has not made any comments regarding favouritism and conferring of undue pecuniary advantage to the blue eyed contractors as alleged in the complaint. “Therefore, in order to ascertain the criminality which would attract the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, a verification has been ordered into the matter by the State Vigilance Organization”, the status report said.
In the status report, the IGP has expressed concern that the Housing and Urban Development Department has only forwarded the inquiry report without any Action Taken Report (ATR) or the recommendations in light of the findings. In the concluding paragraph of the inquiry report, the committee has observed that prescribed guidelines have not been exercised at any level during the execution of these works.
The responsibility/duties associated with the offices of Managing Director, FA/CAO, DGMs and Technical Officers have not been discharged diligently.
The IGP Vigilance has also submitted that after going through the inquiry report which was not accompanied with Action Taken Report (ATR) the SVO has again taken up the matter with the Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department to communicate Vigilance Organization regarding action taken on the findings of the inquiry committee.
It is pertinent to mention here that status report has been filed in response to the contempt petition filed against IGP Vigilance Alok Puri and Dr Koshal Kumar Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Organization Jammu for not registering FIR under Section 5(2) PC Act against Raman Bhalla, former Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture and Youth Services and Sports and Ram Pal Sharma, former Incharge Managing Director J&K Housing Board (presently Secretary, J&K Housing Board).
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