MPPEB scam: Police slaps fresh notice on former MP assembly speaker

BHOPAL: Police are in no mood to spare former speaker of Madhya Pradesh assembly Sriniwas Tiwari for his alleged role in recruitment scam in Vidhan Sabha secretariat. Cops have issued a fresh notice against Tiwari, asking him to record his statement on May 18. This is second notice slapped on Tiwari. Earlier, a notice was issued on April 30, but he did not appear on medical grounds.
Tiwari along with Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and 14 others were booked for alleged irregularities in appointments between 1993 and 2003 during Congress regime. On May 13, Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to the former Speaker and questioned the state government on why it was in a hurry to arrest a 90-year-old man in a 20-year-old case.
Court directed the government to submit its reply within three weeks and stayed Tiwari’s arrest till that time. Police sources said they would tell court there was no delay in registering FIR against Tiwari, Digvijaya Singh and 17 others. Tiwari’s bail plea was rejected by sessions court and high court after which he approached Supreme Court and got two-week respite.
FIR against Congress leaders came at a time when chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was under tremendous pressure over MPPEB scam, following allegations by AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh that CM and his family members were also involved.
“A 20-year-old case of irregularities in appointments to Assembly was suddenly expedited within days to the point of lodging FIR against former Speaker and 18 others, including former CM Digvijaya Singh. But MPPEB scam which was first busted with arrests in Indore in 2012 still awaits conclusion and filing of complete chargesheet,” said Congress spokesperson K K Mishra.
Speaking to TOI, principal secretary B D Israni said, “Lodging FIR was not an overnight decision. There is a long sequence of communication. What’s important was that people involved in the scam were in influential posts and they tried their best to put the proceedings on hold.”
Among 17 other accused, who got jobs, two have been arrested so far while remaining are being summoned by police to record their statements. Case of fraudulent appointments was registered at Jehangirabad police station on February 27 this year on a complaint by Shyam Lal Maithil, deputy secretary in state assembly. He submitted a 14-page complaint with police on basis of which a case was registered.
The basis of complaint was a report of Justice Sachindra Dwivedi committee, which probed irregularities in appointments when Digvijaya Singh was chief minister. Of 17 accused, nine have approached high court and got relief they should be informed at least a week before police arrest them. Two accused, Satya Narayan and Kamlakant have been arrested.
However, police is till mum on action against Digvijaya Singh and did not confirm sending a notice to him in the case. Officials said they would call the accused as and when investigation demands.