Another ‘scam’ in UP: Maya minister arrested on Rs 5 crore bribery charge

Badshah Singh joined the BJP along with the tainted former family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha in New Delhi on January 3 this year. The BJP got rid of Kushwaha in the face of criticism within the party,but persisted with Singh,whom it gave the Mahoba ticket for the assembly polls.

Despite senior BJP leaders campaigning for him,Badshah Singh lost.

The former minister was arrested after three hours of questioning Wednesday,and will be produced in court on Thursday,officials said. The SIB summoned him after five officials of the Labour and Construction Co-operative Federation (LACCFED),including three engineers,alleged that he was paid Rs 5 crore in 2011 for allocating the project to it,along with an advance of Rs 100 crore.

However,LACCFED did not get the project,and Badshah Singh did not return the money.

Among those who made the allegation were former LACCFED chief engineer Govind Sharan Srivastava,executive engineer D K Sahu,superintending engineer Ajay Kumar Dohre and public relations officer Praveen Singh.

All four are behind bars,along with general manager Pankaj Tripathi. Former LACCFED chairman Sushil Katiyar and managing director B P Singh are absconding.

A key witness has reportedly told the SIB that Badshah Singh’s nephew Sonu Singh,and one of his associates,Akhtar,struck the deal with Praveen Singh,following which Praveen Singh asked a LACCFED engineer to meet the minister and “manage” him in order to get the job.

According to this witness,Rs 5 crore was withdrawn from LACCFED’s account at Punjab National Bank in Lucknow’s Lalbagh area between March 28 and 30,2011,following directives from the then chairman Katiyar,then managing director B P Singh and general manager Tripathi.

On April 2,GM Tripathi,chief engineer Srivastava,PRO Praveen Singh,superintending engineer Dohre and executive engineers S K Ojha and R P Singh allegedly went to Badshah Singh’s residence at Kharaila area in Mahoba district and handed him the money.

LACCFED chairman Katiyar’s official car was used to carry the money,the witness has told the SIB.

State BJP president Laxmikant Bajpai said on Wednesday that Badshah Singh’s arrest “will not harm the BJP”. He said that the party would soon take a decision on whether to terminate Singh’s membership.

Mayawati sacked Badshah Singh in October 2011. Later,the Lokayukta indicted him for grabbing government land in Mahoba to build a stadium,college and house. The Lokayukta also found that he had been operating under two names,Badshah Singh and Ramendra Singh. This matter is pending before the Election Commission.