BHOPAL: Barring a perfunctory mention in the Zero Hour on the last day of the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha on Friday, for inexplicable reasons, the main opposition Congress did not raise the issue of the Rs 500 cr Katni Hawala scam in the House. Under rules, the government is not obliged to react to or answer allegations made during the Zero Hour.
The scam, being probed by the state police and the Enforcement Directorate involves parking of Rs 500 crore in 100 unnamed bank accounts in Katni, most of them in the local branch of the Axis Bank. Several prominent persons, some of them occupying high positions in the government, are said to be involved in the scam. A major row was kicked up when the Gaurav Tiwari, the SP of the district was unceremoniously shifted to Chhindwara in the middle of the probe.
The Congress had declared that it would put the government in the dock over the issue. However, it maintained a stoic silence throughout the budget session, which began on February 21. The session was to last till March 31 but in was common knowledge that the House would be adjourned sine die on Friday.
During the Zero Hour on Friday, Congress MLA Kunwar Saurabh Singh raised the issue. He said that Rs 25cr was found deposited in the bank account of one Rajnish Tiwari. “He is virtually a beggar and when he went to the police station to lodge a complaint, he was told that he should give in writing that the money did not belong to him. When he did not agree, he was threatened by the TI”, he said.
Leader of opposition Ajay Singh said that it was a serious issue and the party wanted a discussion on it. He also referred to Gaurav Tiwari’s sudden transfer. Even as the treasury benches refused to react, the Speaker told the Congress members that “You can raise the issue during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill”. And the Congress contingent tamely relented.
