Probe initiated into corruption charges in UP fire department

"An inquiry to be conducted by the Director General of Police (Anti-Corruption) has been ordered into all allegations levelled by DIG (Fire Services) Mishra yesterday," Principal Secretary Fateh Bahadur told reporters here.

Bahadur said Mishra, a 1978 batch IPS officer, has been admitted in the Psychiatric ward of the Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University.

"He is undergoing treatment after doctors diagnosed him with bipolar effective disorder," he said.

Alleging corruption and discrepancies in purchases in the Fire Department, Mishra yesterday alleged he was being harassed for exposing scam and was facing a threat to his life.

"I have written in control room register of the Fire Department about large-scale corruption in purchases in the department. I am facing a threat to my life for exposing corruption," he told reporters here yesterday.

The IPS officer said he had not given any complaint to his seniors on the matter pertaining to corruption.

In a late night development, Mishra was taken to the medical college after he refused to leave his office despite persuasion by senior officers.

"The DIG was taken to the medical college with the consent of family members and friends after doctors recommended treatment," the Principal Secretary said.

He said according to the officer's family members, he was suffering from depression and was ill from the past one month.

"Whatever the DIG said is generally against the government servant service conduct, but keeping in mind his mental condition no action is being taken as of now," the Principal Secretary said.

Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh demanded a CBI probe into allegations of corruption levelled by the senior IPS officer.

He said the allegations were a "blot" on the Mayawati government.

"The charges of corruption have been levelled by a responsible government officer of the DIG level and not by opposition parties.

"For an impartial probe, a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the allegations," he told reporters here.

Several opposition parties also demanded a high-level probe into allegations levelled by the IPS officer.

"An inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court should be conducted into the allegations," BJP vice-president Kalraj Mishra told reporters here.

He said "the manner in which the DIG was taken to the hospital and government's attempt to declare him as mentally deranged is condemnable."

Kalraj alleged the government was in dock following accusations made by the IPS officer.
"As medical reports had been fudged in the past, Mishra should be sent to AIIMS and a panel of doctors should examine him," he said.

Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi alleged there was a threat to the life of Mishra.

"The state government should provide adequate security to the officer and it will be responsible if anything happens to Mishra," she said.

Joshi said as charges were of serious nature, an inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court should be ordered.

"The manner in which Mishra was forcibly taken to the hospital and termed mentally disturbed is condemnable," SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.