Unnao civic chief in dock over scam

LUCKNOW: Lokayukta justice (retired) NK Mehrotra has registered a case against Unnao Nagar Palika Parishad chairman Manoj Gupta, charging him with embezzlement government money in installation of streetlights. The case has been registered with the anti-corruption watchdog.

The executive engineer of the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and the subdivisional magistrate, Unnao, are also under the scanner of the lokayukta as a preliminary investigation has indicated their alleged involvement in the scam.

It was alleged that the Nagar Palika Parishad officers in Unnao earned Rs 23.29 lakh by way kickbacks under the streetlights installation scheme. Owing to the scam, the installation of the streetlights has been stalled. The lokauykta has directed the chairman to submit his reply by August 11.

The state government had sanctioned Rs 2 crore in 2013 for the installation of streetlights in Unnao. The Nagar Palika Parishad floated a tender. Three companies based in Lucknow, Hardoi and Kanpur applied. The finalisa- tion of the bid remained pending for a few months. Finally, the Nagar Palika Parishad procured 500 streetlights at Rs 8,098 each. Sensing something was amiss, one Ashok Kumar Agnihotri lodged a complaint with the the lokayukta’s office. It was then that the lokayukta directed the Unnao district magistrate to submit a report but DM told the lokayukta that no irregularities had been committed. At this, the complainant told the lokayukta that he had purchased the OP glass lamps at Rs 3,108 each and paid 13% tax as well. He submitted the bills of the item to back his claim. Thereafter, the lokayukta carried out an independent inquiry and found that Havell’s gave subsidy to customer on bulbs and lamps. The Nagar Palika Parishad officers had allegedly pocketed the subsidy as well.