NH-74 Scam: Trivendra Singh Rawat suspends six SDMs

Dehradun: The newly elected Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has suspended six sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) and has also wrote to the Centre asking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry regarding the NH-74 scam.

The names of Sub Divisional Magistrates who were found guilty are: Dinesh Pratap Singh, Anil Kumar Shukla, Surendra Singh Jungpangi, Jagdish Lal, Bhagat Singh Phonia and N S Nangyal.

Rawat claimed to have unearthed the scam of worth Rs 240 crore in the acquisition of farmland for the purpose of the proposed NH-74 between 2011 to 2016.

When asked about who is responsible for the scam, Rawat stated, "It would be very early to blame someone. But, I can assure you that whosoever will be found guilty in this case would not be spared. A strict action will be taken against them."

Rawat, while addressing a press conference stated, “Irregularities worth Rs 240 crore have been found in the acquisition of farmland for the purpose of the proposed NH-74 in Udham Singh Nagar district between 2011-2016. Farmland was shown as non-agricultural land to increase the compensation amount by at least 20 times to benefit chosen stakeholders and beneficiaries."

It is also speculated that one more officer Himalaya Singh Maartoliya is involved in this scam. The action will be taken against him, said Rawat.