Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): An allegation of graft of ₹1,000 crore against the minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Sampatiya Uikey, has snowballed into a serious issue.
Uikey raised the matter in the cabinet on Tuesday, saying the inquiry ordered by the engineer-in-chief (E-in-C) of the department tarnished her image.
She demanded Chief Minister Mohan Yadav act against the E-in-C and the complainant Kishore Samrite. The ministers backed Uikey, saying ordering an inquiry into a baseless complaint was not the right thing to do.
The ministers wanted to know whether an officer had the right to order an inquiry against a minister. According to sources, the state government may issue a show-cause notice to E-in-C Sanjay Andhwan seeking an explanation from him.
Interacting with media persons, Uikey said she was right.
MP Govt Denies Corruption Allegations Against Minister Sampatiya Uikey; Assures Action If Probe Ordered Wrongly By PHE DeptShe is a tribal woman and comes from a poor labourer’s family, Uikey said, adding that she is ready to face inquiry.
According to Uikey, the person who has complained is harassing her. The government is neutral, and even if there is any complaint against a minister, the government does its work, she said.
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said Uikey had informed the cabinet about the case. Shukla said the complaint against her was baseless, and the chief minister has taken a serious note of it.
If there is anything wrong on the part of E-in-C, the government will act against him, Shukla said.
Samrite’s letter raises storm
Former legislator Kishor Samrite wrote to the Prime Minister against Sampatiya Uikey and two officers of PHED, BK Songariya and Manoj Bhaskar.
The Prime Minister’s Office sent the letter to the office of the Chief Secretary, which forwarded the letter to the PHED. The E-in-C of the PHED ordered an inquiry into the complaint, which raised a storm.
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