CBI takes over Gomti river front graft probe

New Delhi: The CBI has taken over the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the Rs 1,500-crore Gomti riverfront development project in Lucknow by registering an FIR against eight engineers of the state government.

According to sources the Yogi Adityanath government Uttar Pradesh had constituted an inquiry into the beautification project of the Gomti riverfront carried out by the former SP government. The Adityanath government wanted the matter referred to the CBI, which took over the probe on Thursday. It asked for an investigation into irregularities committed with a “criminal intent” in the implementation of the “Gomti river channelisation project” and the “Gomti riverfront development” by the state’s department of irrigation.

Sources said the CBI has filed an FIR against then chief engineers Gulesh Chandra, S.N. Sharma, Qazim Ali, then superintendent engineers Mangal Yadav, Akhil Raman, Kamaleshwar Singh, Roop Singh Yadav and executive engineer Surendra Yadav. Gulesh Chandra, Shiv Mangal Yadav, Akhil Raman and Roop Singh Yadav have now retired, they added.

The state constituted committee had indicated prima facie irregularities in the project in its report dated May 16, 2017.

The Uttar Pradesh police had registered the case on June 19 on the basis of the report. The state government had sought a CBI probe into the matter on July 17, 2017. The Centre referred the matter to the CBI on November 24, 2017 on the basis of which the agency has taken over investigation into the matter. According to the procedure, the agency re-registered the FIR at the Gomti Nagar police station in Lucknow.