JOIN USATI scam: Upa-lokayukta vets into key files
Expert inquiry, special auditing or inquiry by lokayukta — these are the three options mooted by Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi, who is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the alleged irregularities worth several crores of rupees at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Mysuru during the tenure of then Director General of the institute Amita Prasad.
Addressing media persons, at the Government Guest House, here, on Tuesday, after an inspection at ATI, where the anti-corruption ombudsman vetted into the photocopies of some documents related to the irregularities, the Upa Lokayukta said, “As both — DG V Lakshminarayan and the Deputy Director — are newcomers, they have sought some time to go through the files and make their submissions before the inquiry. Based on the outcome of the report, if needed, it will be decided to hand over the probe to experts, auditors or any other party for further course of action, as the allegations relate to financial irregularities”.
Reacting to media queries, the Upa Lokayukta said, there are 17 sets of documents pertaining to the year 2008 to 2014, the period when the alleged irregularities took place. Now, the documents running into thousands of pages are kept in a safe locker.
The keys of the locker are with the DG and directors of State Institute of Urban Development (SIUD) and State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD) within the precincts of ATI.
The Upa Lokayukta said, though it is not possible for him to go through all the documents, an inventory has been made.
The previous DG Rashmi V Mahesh was summoned to Bengaluru on April 30. According to the official, the ATI received Rs 235 crore from the Central government during the period. The amount received was for training and construction purposes and other activities. However, no proper records have been maintained, said Adi.
The Upa Lokayukta said, “I visited the ATI as part of the inquiry, following a complaint in this regard by MLC Go Madhusudhan. According to the legislator, in whose presence some of the documents were verified, the ATI received Rs 379 crore during from 2008 to 14, to be spent on various activities, including SIUD and SIRD.
An additional amount of Rs 75 crore was also received from the 12th Finance Commission. The funds were not utilised in a proper manner”.