Salman Khurshid trust: In 10 out of 17 UP districts, officials reported ‘forgeries’

'Irregularities' in Mainpuri, Shahjahanpur, Etawah, Kannauj, Allahabad, Farrukhabad, Bulandshahr, Kanshiram Nagar, Etah and Sant Ravidas Nagar

Officials in as many as 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh have raised questions about the genuineness of the reports on the checks done on works carried out by Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, run by union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid, for welfare of the disabled in 2009-2010. The trust had submitted these reports to the union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment at the time of seeking grants for 2010-11.

In their reports to the Handicapped Welfare Department, district officials have alleged that the signatures of officials on the reports are fake and that these also carry allegedly fake stamps. In some cases, the "test check reports" carry signatures of officers who do not even exist, officials have reported.

These reports form the basis of the investigation by the Economic Offences Wing of the police ordered by the state government.

The trust claims to have conducted works in 17 districts. Officials from 13 districts are reported to have alleged irregularities. The Indian Express has reports regarding 10 of those districts.

A verification of the test check reports was ordered during the previous BSP government after the union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment wrote to the state, saying the trust had submitted these directly to the ministry. Under the rules, the trust was supposed to submit the reports through the state government.

The trust had received grants of Rs 71.5 lakh for 17 districts under the 'Assistance to Disabled Persons (AIDP)' scheme of the Government of India in 2009-10 for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for disabled persons.

Under the rules, a proposal for release of funds for the next year is considered by the ministry on the recommendation of the state government after sample checking of 5 to10 per cent of the beneficiaries covered in the previous year.

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