Lucknow: Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) national president Shivpal Yadav's role in the infamous Gomti Riverfront Scam in Lucknow is likely to be probed. The CBI has intensified its investigation into the case. The home department has called for records related to task force meetings from the irrigation department. After discussing this, there is a preparation to crack down on the then Irrigation Minister Shivpal Yadav along with two officers who held high positions in the Samajwadi Party (SP) government. In this scam, the then Superintendent Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Roop Singh Yadav, who was said to be the most special of Shivpal, was arrested and sent to jail.
According to the report, the CBI, which has cracked down on irrigation department officials in this multi-crore scam, is now preparing to interrogate Shivpal Singh Yadav as well. Earlier, the CBI had sought permission to investigate against two then chief secretaries and principal secretaries irrigation department of the state government and another officer who was later chief secretary. These two former officers were an important part of the high-level monitoring committee (task force) formed for the construction of the Riverfront, but this approval has not been received yet.
Now, in a new development, the Home Department has summoned the minutes and bound records of the meetings of the Task Force from the Irrigation Department, so that the role of officers including the minister can be investigated. According to sources, speedy action will also be taken in the cases registered against Shivpal's close friends in the districts. In the year 2015, a task force was constituted for the Riverfront under the leadership of the then Chief Secretary. It included the then Principal Secretary (Irrigation) along with the then Chief Engineer, Head of the Department, and Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department. During the investigation, it was found that tender conditions were changed on the oral instructions of the higher officials, the budget was spent arbitrarily, and there were irregularities in the payment.
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