MP High Court orders probe into allegations of irregularities

The Madhya Pradesh High Court today asked the state Chief Secretary to probe within three months allegations of financial irregularities in use of the central fund, given to MP under a special package for development of backward Bundelkhand region.
At the same time, the HC asked petitioner Pawan Ghuwara, who is Tikamgarh Congress district committee's general secretary, to file a comprehensive representation with the Chief Secretary in two weeks.
The court said it would be processed and inquired into expeditiously, not later than three months from its receipt.
The special package of Rs 3,700 crore was sanctioned in 2008-09 for development of backward Bundelkand region of MP which includes Chhattarpur, Datia, Tikamgarh, Panna, Sagar and Damoh districts.

A division bench of MP High Court, comprising Chief Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar and Justice Sanjay Yadav, said if the petitioner's grievance is found correct, the loss to the public exchequer should be recovered from the concerned officers and they should face criminal prosecution.
"During the inquiry if it is noticed that some public servants are involved in acts of commission and omission, the concerned authority must proceed against such erring officials appropriately in addition to initiating departmental enquiry," the court directed.
With the above directions, the court disposed of the petition filed by Ghuwara alleging huge funds of the Bundelkhand package have been siphoned off.

A whopping Rs 7,214 crore was sanctioned to Bundelkhand region of MP and Uttar Pradesh under the package.