Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The rip-off in the Transport Department has stirred up a hornet’s nest in the state. Although the scam came to light just two months ago, a volley of complaints about it had been lodged several times in the past. Yet, the authorities kept their eyes shut. The complaints were sent to all the four agencies: CBI, ED, Lokayukta and EOW four years ago.
How money was filched from the Transport Department’s check posts was mentioned in those complaints. Even after these complaints, probe agencies kept away from acting against the culprits. Nor did they conduct any probe.
At a press conference, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar referred to retired transport officer, Dashrath Patel and his assistant Rahul Kushwaha, against whom complaints were lodged. President of Indore Truck Operators and Transport Association CL Mukati complained against them. Mukati said Lokayukta had sent the complaint to the Transport Department for an inquiry.
In the statements, taken from him several times, he informed about what was going on at the check posts, but the probe agencies barely took any action to stop the loot. Mukati further said he wrote 250 letters from 2019 to 2024 about the rip-off. Had the probe agencies seriously acted on the complaints, the scam could have been nipped in the bud, he said.
Rajput mum on Umang’s allegations
Minister Govind Singh Rajput has been mum over the allegations made by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar for the past three days. Nor has Rajput made his position on the issue clear. Singhar alleged that Rajput and his family members had gathered properties worth Rs 1,250 crore which were disproportionate to their known sources of income. Apart from BJP’s state media in-charge Ashish Agarwal, few came in support of Rajput.
