NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation will soon start a probe into alleged misappropriation of funds under MNREGA in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The agency will probe alleged financial irregularities and abuse of power in implementation of the centrally-sponsored rural employment scheme in the state during 2007-10 in seven districts, CBI sources said. The decision comes after the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court directed CBI to investigate alleged abuse and misappropriation of funds as well as abuse of power under MNREGA scheme in seven districts – Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Kushinagar.
The order was passed by a bench of Justices Devi Prasad Singh and Ashok Pal Singh on a PIL filed by one Sachchidanand Gupta (Sachchey).
The bench had further directed CBI to hold a preliminary inquiry with regard to other districts of the state for the three years relating to abuse, misuse or misappropriation of funds provided by the Centre under the scheme with follow-up of regular enquiry, if required.
It had directed the state government to provide all necessary assistance, including manpower, to CBI within a month from the date of receipt of request to proceed for investigation in pursuance to the judgment.
Earlier, the CBI had probed irregularities in another centrally-sponsored scheme, National Rural Health Mission, and had charged the then BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha for corruption and bribery.