'Akhilesh doled out Rs 497 cr from discretionary fund'

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had doled out a whopping Rs 497 crore from his discretionary fund during his tenure in office between 2012-17, an RTI response has revealed.

The State Information Commission (SIC) had sought these details from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) after a query by a dismissed police constable Mohd. Rafi directly, was not entertained.

The matter is to heard by the SIC next on December 15.

The amount was given to 39,154 persons based on requests made to the CMO for financial assistance for treatment, compensation and ex-gratia to families of the deceased.

The maximum amount of Rs 50 lakh went to the wife and family of Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haq, who was killed by a mob in Pratapgarh's Kunda in 2013.

The second highest amount from the Chief Minister's discretionary fund went to the family of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was lynched by a mob in Dadri in 2015 on suspicion the family had stocked beef in their home.

As the name suggests, the fund which has no financial limits, is at the discretion of the Chief Minister and can be given to anyone upto any amount.

Akhilesh Yadav's predecessor Maywati had spent one/fifth of what the Samajwadi Party chief did during his tenure. Response to the RTI reveals Mayawati spent Rs 84.76 crore from the discretionary fund.

--IANS

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