The Uttar Pradesh government has moved Supreme Court, seeking permission to take action against Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh, on the basis of an enquiry report holding him guilty of misusing his power during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime for allotment of plots in Lucknow.
The Mayawati government's move comes in the wake of the Allahabad High Court restraining it from initiating action against Singh, who according to the enquiry report, was allotted a plot by the Lucknow Development Authority in Gomti Nagar in 1994, which was meant for the Economically Weaker Section.
However, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court, on June 13, had given liberty to the state government to approach the apex court for proceeding against Singh.
"It is prayed that the court permit the government to proceed in accordance with law and to take necessary action on the basis of enquiry report," the state government said in its application.
A petition filed by Uttar Pradesh advocate Vishwanath Chaturvedi seeking a high-level inquiry into the allotments worth Rs 2.80 crore made in Vipul Khand, Gomti Nagar, has already been pending in the apex court, which on September 12, 2005 by an interim order had restrained transfer of the plots until further orders.
The UP government application said that on November 2, 2007, the apex court had issued notices to Yadav and Singh among others for permission to initiate criminal prosecutions against them as they were beneficiaries of the alleged illegal allotment of plots.
In the fresh application, the state government annexed the enquiry report to support its allegation that Singh had 'misused' his power and obtained illegal benefits in connivance with various officers of the Lucknow Development Authority.
The government also placed before the apex court the findings of the enquiry conducted by the Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department into the alleged illegal allotment of plots in Gomti Nagar in favour of Samajwadi Party general secretary.
The enquiry report said that two plots were illegally allotted to the politician by the Authority in 1994, out of which one was meant for the Economically Weaker Section.
"It is clear on examination of the record that in this case Amar Singh was allotted (one) plot directly from the EWS category, which is completely against the rules. In this manner, without obtaining any permission from the competent officer, he was issued an allotment letter for the plot," the report said.
In another case, two plots were illegally allotted to one Aaliya Khatoon by LDA, in an irregular manner out of which one plot was purchased by Singh.
The enquiry officer recommended cancellation of irregular allotment of plots to the politician and take action against him for misusing his power during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime.
"You are requested to take necessary steps for cancellation of all the plots irregularly allotted to him and for misuse of powers by him in order to earn undue benefits in active connivance with the officers of the Authority," Principal Secretary S R Lakha recommended in his report.
The high court had passed the order on a plea by Amar Singh, seeking to restrain the government from taking action against him on the basis of inquiry report as a related matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
More from rediff