State Information Commissioner Hafiz Usman instructed Principal Secretary (Rural Development) to probe into the matter in which local authorities in Amroha shelved a case of recovery of Rs 32.27 lakh.

The fund was reportedly swindled by Block Development Officer of Hassanpur in 2006. While the BDO was suspended but he was later reinstated and the probe lost steam and was pushed under the carpet. Interestingly, a subordinate of the BDO, who claimed himself to be the victim, was terminated in the matter. 

The SIC said that Principal Secretary (Rural Development) has been asked to scan the probe done by the then Commissioner, Rural Development, earlier. The PS has been asked to submit a report as to why no further action was taken in the matter.

Earlier, an FIR was also registered in this regard and the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) was asked to probe as it was suspected that the scam could be of higher value. 

The SIC said that an appeal was filed in his court and it was informed that Rs 32,27,654 had been swindled by officials in Hassanpur block of Amroha. After initial probe, then BDO of Hassanpur Bheem Singh, some government officials and bank officials were found to be in cahoots. A case was registered with Hassanpur Kotwali (case crime number—1000/2006) under Section 420/467/468/471/409/204 IPC. 

Then Principal Secretary JN Chamber ordered recovery of the fund from the accused and also ordered a probe by EOW. Bheem Singh was suspended and attached with the Jhansi office. 

later, Bheem Singh’s suspension was revoked and no step was undertaken to recover funds from him. Besides, whistle blower Shishu Pal Singh, an assistant accountant under Bheem Singh, was victimised and his services were terminated. Now to get the actual culprits punished and recover the swindled fund money from the accused, the Principal Secretary will probe and submit a report for further action. 

Meanwhile, in another case, Usman ordered recovery of fund swindled by government officials and village pradhan. A probe into expenditure under MGNAREGA in Behta hamlet (Sambhal) for the last four fiscals held the local pradhan Suraj Mukhi, along with BDO-cum-secretary Nazar Abbas, technical assistant Neem Singh and others responsible for not maintaining record and making irregularities.  The probe revealed that the officials made extra payment of Rs 57,737. The officials, however, got the matter shelved by pulling strings. Usman has now asked DM of Sambhal to probe into the matter and recover the money.