CBI raids 40 locations in fresh probe in UP’s Gomti Riverfront project
This is the second CBI probe in the project worth ₹1,600 crore, which is marred by allegations of diversion of funds, and not following the due process before awarding contracts
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday launched searches at over 40 locations in Uttar Pradesh and a few other states after registering a fresh case to investigate alleged irregularities in Gomti Riverfront project, launched by then Samajwadi Party government in 2015 with Akhilesh Yadav as the chief minister, people familiar with the development said.
The raids were conducted following a First Information Report lodged on Friday by the anti-corruption wing of Lucknow unit of CBI against 189 people under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This is the second CBI probe in the project worth ₹1,600 crore, which is marred by allegations of diversion of funds, and not following the due process before awarding contracts. The first case was registered by the central agency in December 2017 on the recommendation of UP government.
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The Yogi Adityanath government recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities on July 17, 2017, when a four-member committee appointed by it found that only 60% work had been carried out despite an expenditure of ₹1,435 crore (95% of project cost) on the project.
In the latest case, people cited above said that several former chief engineers, superintending engineers, other engineers and public servants of the state irrigation department, private contractors and businessmen have been named as accused.
The CBI teams, after registering the case, swooped in to raid the accused at 40 locations in 13 districts, including Lucknow, Agra, Noida, Bulandshahr, and Raebareli in the state and one place each in West Bengal and Rajasthan.
“The CBI was entrusted with the investigation in 2017, why did it take so many years to make any headway in the case? Samajwadi Party welcomes the investigation in any developmental activity carried out by the previous government. But why this hullabaloo when UP Vidhan Sabha elections are fast approaching? Investigation cannot be used as a political ploy to divert the attention of people from pressing issues. We want free and fair investigation but this government is only interested in political vendetta. The investigation is just a facade to malign the previous government”, said Samajwadi Party leader and spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi.
(With inputs from Chandan Kumar)
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