KL Report
SRINAGAR
In a significant order, the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) Wednesday directed the personal appearance of the Investigating Officer (IO), who is investigating the much publicized multi-crore Roshni land scam in Jammu in which a case had been registered against a top businessman of Jammu Bansi Lal Gupta and senior Revenue and Jammu Development Authority officials.
The SVC further directed the IO to produce case diary of the case and also file the Status Report indicating the progress achieved so far in the case.
When this complaint came up for the hearing, Advocate Shiekh Shakil Ahmed appearing for the complainant, Prof S.K.Bhalla submitted that looking into the involvement of three top rank IAS officers in the scam, the investigation be monitored till it is finalized. He further submitted that looking into the stature of the accused involved in the case, there is every possibility of the derailment of the investigation and in order to instill people’s confidence in the investigation, the same is required to be supervised by the SVC which is the highest anti-graft body in the State.
Advocate Ahmed further insisted that periodic Status Reports be summoned from State Vigilance Organization so that the investigation reaches to its logical conclusion without any further delay.
After considering the submissions made by Advocate Ahmed appearing for the complainant and Advocate Sahil Sharma appearing for Jammu Development Authority, the State Vigilance Commission in the open court directed the personal appearance of Investigating Officer Rajesh Kumar along with the case diary and the status of the investigation on the next date of hearing which falls on March 26 this month.
Pertinently, State Vigilance Organization after exposing multi-crore Roshni Land Scam in Jammu registered FIR vide number 6/2014 against the senior functionaries of Revenue Department and the beneficiary- a highly influential businessman and liquor baron of Jammu namely Bansi Lal Gupta son of Ishar Dar Gupta resident of Gandhi Nagar Jammu.
The then Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sudhanshu Pandey, the then Deputy Commissioner Jammu Hirdesh Kumar Singh, the then vice chairperson JDA Sarita Chouhan and other Revenue officers are also in the net of the vigilance.
The investigation of the case is in progress and FIR 6/2014 had already been formally registered under section 5 (1) (d) read with section 5 (2) prevention of corruption act 2006 and section 120 B RPC and section 17 of J&K state land (vesting of ownership to the occupants) act 2001 and the investigation has been entrusted to Rajesh Sharma Inspector Jammu wing of Police Station Vigilance Organization Jammu. (CNS)
