Memorial scam: UP Lokayukta indicts 199

The Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta today indicted 199 persons, including two former BSP ministers, a sitting MLA, several officers and engineers for irregularities in construction of memorials and parks during the previous Mayawati regime in the state.
Submitting his report to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Lokayukta N K Mehrotra said irregularities to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore were detected which was 34 per cent of the total budget for construction of memorials and parks.
"I have submitted my report to the Chief Minister in which 199 persons have been indicted," Mehrotra told PTI.
He said he had recommended filing of FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act and under section 409 of the IPC (criminal breach of trust by public servant) against 19 persons.

The 19 were two former BSP ministers Naseemuddi Siddiqui and Babu Singh Kushwaha, former Joint Director of Mining S A Farooqui, former Managing Director of Rajkiya Nirmaan Nigam C P Singh and 15 engineers.
C P Singh is currently technical advisor to the Uttrakhand Chief Minister.

For the remaining persons indicted in the report, the Lokayukta recommended that their properties be probed and if these were found disproportionate to their known sources of income, FIRs should be lodged against them.
The 199 persons indicted by the Lokayukta are two ex-BSP ministers, two former MLAs, a sitting MLA, five mining officers, 57 engineers of Nirman Nigam, five engineers of LDA, two advocates, eight people of the public, leaders of 20 consortiums, 60 representatives of supply firms and 37 accountants of RNN.

Soon after assuming office, Akhilesh had asked the Lokayukta to probe alleged irregularities and corruption in supply of pink sandstone from Mirzapur for the construction of memorials and parks during the BSP regime.