LOKAYUKTA SEES LAPSES IN AP TAX REPORT ON TD MLC

The Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta has noticed serious lapses in a report submitted by chief commissioner of state tax Peeyush Kumar in a case filed against Telugu Desam MLC P. Ashok Babu.

The Lokayukta directed special chief secretary Rajat Bhargav to conduct a fresh inquiry and submit a report by June 14.

Deccan Chronicle carried a report on April 19 titled ‘AP tax staff helping TD MLC’, exposing the botched up inquiry by senior officials of the department and endorsement of the same by the chief commissioner.

According to the Lokayukta order, a copy of which is available with DC, “important aspects related to the complaint have not been taken into consideration by the inquiring officer and certain allegations have been ignored and not inquired into.”

The Lokayukta said, “The very inaction on the representation submitted by the complainant warrants this institution to recommend further inquiry.”

The legal authority asked the special CS to inquire into specific allegations which were substantiated with evidence by complainant Meher Kumar, GST officer.

Drawing the contours of the inquiry, the Lokayukta wanted to probe whether the TD MLC applied for transfer, whether he produced a fake B.Com certificate, whether he was allowed to retire in the middle of the month in violation of rules, whether campaigning for a political party while in service was not against service rules and who was responsible for the acts of tampering with the service register.