EPF scam in UP: ED set to quiz two senior IAS officers
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is all set to question two senior bureaucrats from Uttar Pradesh in connection with its money laundering probe into the multicrore Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scam.
Sources in the agency said Alok Kumar, then chairman and Aparna Upadhayay, the then managing director of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) are expected to be questioned by the ED next week. Sources further said that Alok Kumar, a 1990 batch IAS officer had allegedly invested around Rs 4323 crore in various housing finance schemes including scam-hit DHFL whereas Aparna Upadhayay, a 2001 batch IAS officer had invested a huge amount in DHFL and other financial schemes. Both senior public servants have already been examined by the CBI, which is also investigating the case, in this connection.
The CBI has already examined several senior officials of the power corporation of UP government. “Investigations by the central probe agencies have revealed that over Rs 4, 323 crore of hardearned savings of UPPCL employees under provident fund was allegedly invested in the scam-hit DHFL and other housing finance companies during the tenure of Alok Kumar as UPPCL chairman in 2017-19. The agency also found that out of the total investment, Rs 3,245 crore was allegedly invested in DHFL and other such companies with the clearance of Aparna U, a 2001batch IAS officer, who was the Managing Director of UPPCL in 2017-19”, sources said. The CBI took over the investigation into the scam after taking over the FIR registered by Hazratganj Police station in Lucknow (UP).