Uttarakhand: In-charge Mandi Secretary and Senior Assistant suspended after bribery scandal, three-member team will investigate the matter

Rudrapur: The Vigilance team had arrested the in-charge secretary and senior assistant of Kashipur Mandi on charges of taking a bribe of Rs 1.20 lakh in lieu of making a license for a Phad. Now the Mandi Managing Director has suspended both the employees. Also, the investigation of the case has been handed over to the committee. A three-member committee has been formed in the matter. Mandi Managing Director Hemant Verma said that both the employees have been suspended. A departmental inquiry is being conducted in the matter.

In fact, a complaint was made to Haldwani Vigilance by two commission agents resident of Sarvarkheda accusing the in-charge Mandi Secretary of demanding bribe in lieu of making a Phad license. On investigating the complaint, the Vigilance team found the allegations to be true. In the case, the trap team arrested the in-charge Mandi Secretary from Kashipur on July 22 with a bribe of Rs 1.20 lakh. During interrogation and investigation, the team also arrested the senior assistant when he found his role. The accused were sent to jail after filing a case against them under the Corruption Act. Late last evening, Mandi Managing Director Hemant Kumar Verma suspended both the employees.

Hemant Kumar Verma said that on July 22, the Haldwani Vigilance team arrested the Secretary-in-Charge and Senior Assistant of Kashipur Mandi while taking bribe. A team has been formed to investigate the matter and an investigation report has been sought in 15 days. Both the employees have been suspended. Vigilance action against corruption is continuing in the state. Departmental action is also being taken against officers involved in corruption. Recently, action was taken against an officer of the Mandi Samiti in Kashipur in a case of corruption in the Mandi Samiti. The Vigilance team arrested the accused after receiving a complaint of demanding bribe.

The Vigilance team from Haldwani arrested the accused while taking a bribe of more than one lakh rupees in exchange for two files. The officer had demanded bribe in exchange for issuing the license. This action of the vigilance team created a stir in the Mandi premises. Further legal action has been taken by registering a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. After the Dhami government’s zero tolerance policy against corruption, the vigilance team is continuously taking action.