Allahabad High Court asks for time-bound probe into tractor scam of UP

Lucknow: Much to the discomfiture of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has directed to complete probe into alleged tractor purchase scam took place during her regime in 2010-11.

The division bench comprised of Justices A P Shahi and Sanjay Harkauli issued directions to UP agriculture department on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Neelesh Saraswat. The Court said all informations required for probe should be made available.

The matter:

• The petition impinges upon the purchase of 540 tractors under pulses-oilseeds scheme 2010-11.
• The scheme was specially for the farmers of drought-hit Bundelkhand.
• It involved the budget of over Rs 26 crore.
• The tractors were meant to be distributed among the farmers.
• UP State Agro Industrial Corporation was executing agency.
• According to the allegations made in the petition that officials purchased the tractors before signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) .
• Even dumped tractors were distributed among few.

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What Court said:

• The lawyer of UP Agro Sriprakash Singh told the Court that Divisional Engineer( Headquarters) conducted an enquiry into this.
• The enquiry report was sent to the government on August 25,2015.
• The government counsel informed the Court that the government had asked information on four points which may take some time.
• The Court directed the Principal Secretary of Agriculture department to furnish the probe in three months.

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