Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, August 30: The Hon’ble High Court has given directions to the Director, CBI, New Delhi to inquire into the Public Interest Litigation that was filed by the RTI Activist viz Social Worker, Mr Akshay Pant in the year 2016.
As per reports, Mr Akshay Pant after going through a Audit report of the CAG found that the Director of Social Welfare, A & N Administration have not used a fund of around 147 Lakhs for specific purpose allocated by the Government of India in the year 1999.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr Akshay Pant said that during the then year the GOI allocated the fund to the Directorate of Social Welfare for using it for the purpose of National Programme for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities.
He said that instead using it for the purpose, directed by the GOI, the department kept the amount as a fixed deposit in various private banks without any permission receiving from the Government of India.
“When I studied the audit report of the CAG I wrote letter to the then CS the Chief Vigilance Officer for conducting an inquiry upon it following which the then CS referred the matter to Anti Corruption. But as nothing was done by the Anti Corruption for two years, I filed a PIL against the misuse of funds,” Mr Pant said.
“Not only this when I asked the department through RTI, that what the department has done with the incoming fund and expenditures incurred, the department replied that the money has been utilized but no cash book maintained,”. Mr Pant said.
Mr Pant said that soon after the PIL filed the Court directed the Anti Corruption unit to submit a report and in 10 days, the Anti Corruption also submitted a report regarding misuse of funds by the department and all details about the money that was kept in the bank.
“The Court then directed the Administration to take proper action against the person involved in the matter but looking at the Lethargic attitude of the Administration, this judgement was given by the Court yesterday and the case has now been handed over to CBI,” Mr Pant said.
