Union minister for CBI probe into alleged ‘Mahakumbh scam’

CAG had pulled up the Uttarakhand govt for wasteful expenditure in the Mahakumbh Mela.

Alleging misuse of funds in the conduct of Mahakumbh mela in Haridwar last year by the Uttarakhand government,Union minister Harish Rawat today demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter.

“The Centre had granted nearly Rs 600 crore for the conduct of Mahakumbh mela at Haridwar last year and the CAG has cited irregularities in the expenditure of funds to the tune of over Rs 200 crore,” he said and urged Chief Minister B C Khanduri to recommend a CBI probe.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had earlier pulled up the Uttarakhand government for “wasteful,avoidable and unauthorised” expenditure of Rs 223 crore in the Mahakumbh Mela.

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Based on the CAG report,a criminal complaint was filed in a court here against the then Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Rawat said in a statement that mere passage of Lokayukta Bill cannot fulfill the commitment to fight corruption. “To really fight corruption,it is imperative to take action against (your) own people.”

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