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a.k.shema:LUCKNOW: The UP government washed its hands off senior IAS officer VS Pandey after his name appeared on the enforcement directorate (ED) list for scrutiny for his alleged links with Hasan Ali in the $ 8 billion money-laundering case probe.
Pandey, a close confidante of chief minister Mayawati and was holding the key post of principal secretary, information, has been shunted to the revenue board as a member. An IPS officer, Jasvir Singh, who was attached to Pandey as officer on special duty (OSD), was also shunted out. His name also figured in the controversy.
Cabinet secretary Shashank Sehekhar Singh said at a press conference that the action had been taken by the CM after Pandey's name figured in the ED's scrutiny and his alleged connection with Hasan Ali.
Singh hastened to add that the government was in no way responsible for the conduct of either Pandey or Singh and added that they would be directly answerable and accountable for their conduct and any scrutiny by the ED or the Supreme Court.
Clarifying that the government had nothing to do with this incident, the cabinet secretary also said that Pandey was not associated at present with the CM secretariat in any capacity. Therefore, the report carried out about the involvement of the CM's office for the alleged conduct of Pandey was totally mischievous and erroneous, he asserted.
Pandey has been stripped of all his charges, including food and drug control department and secretariat administration, besides information and public relations.
Pandey's links with Hasan Ali and his removal is another big jolt to the government which is already smarting under all round attacks following brutal murder of a chief medical officer in Lucknow. Facing allegations that the CMO was the victim of rampant corruption in health department, the government had to sack its two ministers and the top health official.
This is the second time when Pandey has been removed unceremoniously from his position of power. The development has suddenly increased the political temperature in the state with major opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and the BJP terming the action as only a damage-control exercise.
Leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, said that Pandey had been made only a scapegoat by the government, which he said was actually responsible for the money-laundering. Terming the incident as a serious matter, he said this only reaffirmed the public perception that the government was auctioning the interest of the state by siphoning public money though money-laundering business.
Notably, the name of Pandey had figured prominently in the case after a key Hasan Ali aide and a Congress functionary from Bihar, Amlendu Pandey, stated under oath that he had been in regular contact with Pandey.
Incidentally, mention of the UP CM's office in connection with Hasan Ali case also came up in the Supreme Court on Friday when the ED counsel pointed out how the CM's office was taking undue interest in allegedly derailing the money-laundering investigation.
a.k.shrma1@gmail.com
a.k.shema:LUCKNOW: The UP government washed its hands off senior IAS officer VS Pandey after his name appeared on the enforcement directorate (ED) list for scrutiny for his alleged links with Hasan Ali in the $ 8 billion money-laundering case probe.Pandey, a close confidante of chief minister Mayawati and was holding the key post of principal secretary, information, has been shunted to the revenue board as a member. An IPS officer, Jasvir Singh, who was attached to Pandey as officer on special duty (OSD), was also shunted out. His name also figured in the controversy.
Cabinet secretary Shashank Sehekhar Singh said at a press conference that the action had been taken by the CM after Pandey's name figured in the ED's scrutiny and his alleged connection with Hasan Ali.
Singh hastened to add that the government was in no way responsible for the conduct of either Pandey or Singh and added that they would be directly answerable and accountable for their conduct and any scrutiny by the ED or the Supreme Court.
Clarifying that the government had nothing to do with this incident, the cabinet secretary also said that Pandey was not associated at present with the CM secretariat in any capacity. Therefore, the report carried out about the involvement of the CM's office for the alleged conduct of Pandey was totally mischievous and erroneous, he asserted.
Pandey has been stripped of all his charges, including food and drug control department and secretariat administration, besides information and public relations.
Pandey's links with Hasan Ali and his removal is another big jolt to the government which is already smarting under all round attacks following brutal murder of a chief medical officer in Lucknow. Facing allegations that the CMO was the victim of rampant corruption in health department, the government had to sack its two ministers and the top health official.
This is the second time when Pandey has been removed unceremoniously from his position of power. The development has suddenly increased the political temperature in the state with major opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and the BJP terming the action as only a damage-control exercise.
Leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, said that Pandey had been made only a scapegoat by the government, which he said was actually responsible for the money-laundering. Terming the incident as a serious matter, he said this only reaffirmed the public perception that the government was auctioning the interest of the state by siphoning public money though money-laundering business.
Notably, the name of Pandey had figured prominently in the case after a key Hasan Ali aide and a Congress functionary from Bihar, Amlendu Pandey, stated under oath that he had been in regular contact with Pandey.
Incidentally, mention of the UP CM's office in connection with Hasan Ali case also came up in the Supreme Court on Friday when the ED counsel pointed out how the CM's office was taking undue interest in allegedly derailing the money-laundering investigation.
a.k.shrma1@gmail.com
very good post
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