Lucknow: Dismissing allegations of the Uttar Pradesh government being soft on Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid embroiled in a controversy over activities of his trust, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today asserted that an impartial probe was on in this regard.
Talking to mediapersons at a function here, he said the probe was underway and nothing could be said before its completion.
“How can anyone allege that the UP government will go soft on the probe against the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by the Union Minister and his wife Louise Khurshid without going through the probe report,” he questioned. He said, “We are committed to going for an impartial investigation into the entire details and anything could be said thereafter.”
The UP government had ordered a probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state police into alleged irregularities of the Trust in 17 districts, including Farrukhabad which is the Parliamentary constituency of Mr Khurshid.
Earlier, India Against Corruption(IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal had expressed apprehension that the Samajwadi Party government in UP could cover up the probe against Mr Khurshid in order to save party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav from the disproportionate assets(DA) case.
The EOW today raided several district offices of the Handicapped Welfare department. The raids were the part of the investigation into the alleged irregularities done by the Trust.
Official sources said here that it will take some time to get details of the raids.
The Trust has allegedly been “misusing” the funds and even “forged signatures” of the state officials and doctors in order to clear the payments made by the Centre.
Mr Yadav too hinted that the matter belonged to the previous Mayawati regime in the state and some officers could have acted erroneously but things would be clear only after the probe.
“Presently, the probe has been ordered in 17 districts where the Trust held medical camps for handicapped,” sources said, adding that these districts have been divided into four sectors for smooth conduct of the investigation. Allegations were made against the activities of the Trust in Farrukhabad. It was alleged that the fake signatures of some officers of the UP government were used to get central grant to the tune of Rs 71 lakh for the Trust.
It has also been reported that around 34 officials of 13 districts have admitted that their signatures were forged by the Trust officials.
Mr Khurshid and his wife, who is the Project Director of the Trust, however, denied the charges but the issue assumed larger proportions after Mr Kejriwal picked it up demanding the resignation of the Union Minister.
It has also been reported that Ms Khurshid had met Mr Yadav on September 17 in Lucknow to ask him to release the funds for the works done by the Trust for the current fiscal.
The state government was yet to release the funds so far. (UNI)