The dearth of IPS officers in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Uttar Pradesh has hit its functioning, raising questions about Akhilesh Yadav’s commitment to check corruption.
The SIT does not have any officer of the Director General, Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General or Superintendent of Police rank. Instead, the wing is manned by a circle officer.
The SIT is presently investigating five major cases -- multi-crore food scam, irregularities related to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC), issue of fake universities, a communal riot in Lucknow and an electricity bill related fraud. A few sub-inspectors, constables and a circle officer are handling these cases.
The SIT was constituted by the BSP during its regime. It seems the SP Government cold-shouldered it as most of the party loyalists are involved in the scams that the SIT is presently investigating. In the UPSIDC multi-crore scam, the main culprits are then chief engineer Arun Mishra, then joint managing director Dhanlaxmi and then managing director Chanchal Tewari. All the three had wielded power during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime and had allegedly looted Corporation assets.
They were jailed during the Mayawati regime that succeeded the Mulayam one. But as soon as Akhilesh became Chief Minister, they were all rehabilitated. It was a slow process, but all the more systematic. Mishra’s suspension was revoked and both Dhanlaxmi and Tewari were rehabilitated in key posts. Also, the investigations came to a standstill during the present regime.
The SIT is investigating the Rs 1,000-crore food scandal that rocked the state during Mulayam’s rule spanning from 2003 to 2007.