NREGA scam: CBI to probe senior revenue officials in UP

The CBI, probing the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Uttar Pradesh, is all set to examine more than ten senior revenue officials of three districts in the state. Sources said these revenue officers played crucial role in the disbursement of Central fund in three districts.

Sources said, “The CBI will soon question more than ten senior officials of the revenue department of three districts — Gonda, Mahoba and Kushinagar”. The CBI has already registered seven FIRs to probe the alleged irregularities in implementation of the Centrally-sponsored scheme in the state.

The agency in 2014 registered seven cases to probe irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGS in seven districts in UP, including Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Kushinagar. The FIRs were registered on the direction of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court. The probe period, by the CBI, is between 2007-10. During this period, BSP leader Mayawati was the chief minister. Expressing displeasure over corruption in the implementation of scheme, Allahabad high court had directed the CBI to probe the allegations of financial irregularities into use of MGNREGS funds in seven districts in UP. The court had also directed the agency to conduct inquiry if it finds evidence of corruption in other districts during investigations, sources said.