Graph taint on Rampura Phul MC chief, 3 others

SDM RECOMMENDS REMOVAL OF SAD LEADER SUNIL BITTA, SUSPENSION OF THE THEN EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND TWO CLERKS

BATHINDA Rampura Phul SDM Narinder Singh Dhaliwal has recommended the district commissioner to remove its MC president and to suspend two civic body employees for alleged financial irregularities and misuse of their position.

Dhaliwal has also suggested that a case be registered against MC chief Sunil Bitta, the civic body executive officer at the time of embezzlement (name unidentified in the report) and two clerks Dharam Singh and Lachhman Das. SAD leader Bitta is a close aide of former state minister Sikander Singh Maluka.

Two MC councillors Sonali Mittal and Rajani Rani had submitted a complaint in March to the office of Bathinda DC, alleging financial irregularities and misuse use of position in the urban body, after which SDM was asked to conduct an inquiry. After probe, SDM handed over the report to DC on April 27.

“During inquiry, we found that there was misuse of position, financial loss to MC, financial benefits to some persons and change in the MC records. I have recommended removal of Bitta from his post and case against him and three MC employees,” said SDM.

As per the inquiry report, MC faced financial loss by not auctioning the work of collection of bus stand fee from August 15, 2016 to April 25, 2017, rather a private person was allotted the work without passing of a resolution in the MC House. The reserve price for auctioning the work on April 25 was fixed at ₹5 lakh per year while the same work was allotted through auction at ₹7.41 lakh for last year.

“Similarly, MC suffered financial loss in allotment of canteen at the bus stand. The MC earned ₹24 lakh in last financial year by auctioning the canteen but at ₹60,000 per month that was being collected after August 15, 2016 when the contract ended, MC was to earn only ₹7.20 lakh in a year,” said the report.

The inquiry also established that a private contractor was benefited in collection of building map fee. “The MC published an advertisement for taking on lease 2-5 acres for dumping solid waste on April 21, 2016 while resolution in this regard was passed the next day, which was done with a mala fide intention. Also, MC president was allegedly found involved in fake resolutions of works done and payments were done to his associates illegally,” added the report.