The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh on Monday suspended the District Magistrate of Maharajganj along with four other officials for alleged “financial irregularities” in maintaining a cow conservation centre and over-reporting the number of destitute cattle in it.
Apart from DM Amar Nath Upadhyay, former SDM Nichlaul Devendra Kumar, present SDM Satyam Mishra, chief deputy veterinary officer Nichlaul V.K. Maurya, and chief veterinary officer Maharajganj Rajeev Upadhyay were suspended with immediate effect.
A disciplinary probe was also initiated against the five.
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The matter pertains to the Madhwalia Gau Sadan in Maharajganj in east U.P., where a preliminary probe committee found that the number of destitute cows mentioned in the register did not match the actual figures. While the register showed 2,500 cattle heads, an on-field inspection revealed the number to be much less, 954, said R.K Tiwari, U.P. Chief Secretary.
Mr. Tiwari said this amounted to “serious irregularities and negligence”.
"This shows that the number of cattle heads was deliberately shown to be more, which prima facie reflects there was misuse of state funds on a large scale along with financial irregularities," he said.
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The officials may have deliberately over-reported the number of cows and on the other hand failed to provide satisfactory answers to explain why there were fewer cows on-ground than in the register, Mr. Tiwari said at a press conference.
While there was an alleged drop in the number of cows, the documents related to their expenses for needs like fodder were also not maintained in a satisfactory manner, the Chief Secretary said.
‘Illegal land lease’
The officials were also charged with illegally giving out large quantity of the Gau Sadan land on lease to private individuals, firms or farmers.
The State animal husbandry department had acquired 500 acres of forest land for the Gau Sadan. However, 328 acres out of it were given out to farmers, individuals and firms on lease for stipulated time periods going against the legal procedure, the government said. Also, this was outside the purview of the Gau Sadan Samiti.