Akhilesh 'opened gate of corruption': UP govt

Lucknow: A day after recommending a CBI probe into the investment of over Rs 2,600 crore of the UP power corporation employees' provident fund in scam-hit housing finance firm DHFL, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday accused the previous Akhilesh Yadav regime of "opening

gate of corruption" by the decision.

Facing opposition's attack over the investment of the part of the UPPCL's EPF in DHFL, the Uttar Pradesh government sought to set the records straight, asserting that the "dubious" decision was taken by Akhilesh Yadav government in April 2014 and the process of investment was further carried forward during 2016.

And the then secretary Praveen Kumar Gupta of the UP State Power Employees Trust and UPPCL's Provident Fund Trust, and UPPCL's erstwhile Director (Finance) Sudhanshu Dwivedi began the actual investment in DHFL from March 2017 even without bringing the matter to the knowledge of the UPPCL's managing director, said UP Energy Minister and state government's spokesperson Shrikant Sharma.

The duo began investing UPPCL's employees provident fund in DHFL despite a clearance to deposit the money for a fixed period in the Punjab national bank, he added.

Slamming Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for targeting the Yogi Adityanath government on the issue, Sharma said, "It's laughable that the parties, whose names are synonymous with corruption have levelled allegations against the government of a 'sanyasi' (Yogi Adityanath)." Detailing chronology of the investment decision, Sharma said, "During Akhilesh Yadav's regime on April 21, 2014, it was decided that if there are options of getting more interest, the amount of EPF and GPF can be invested there (DHFL)."

"By taking this decision, the gates of corruption were opened (during the Samajwadi Party regime)," asserted Sharma.

"The process of investment was carried forward in 2016 and on December 17, 2016, the Trust's secretary (Gupta) and UPPCL's finance director (Dwiwdi) were authorised for this. After this, from March 2017, the process to investment of the EPF money in DHFL began," he said.

After getting a complaint of the "dubious investment" on July 10, 2019, a committee was constituted within two days on July 12, 2019, the minister said, adding the committee report was submitted to the government on August 29 and on the basis of its recommendations, "our government has initiated strict action".

Attacking the SP supremo, Sharma said, "He is trying to put our government in the dock alleging corruption, but he should reply why his government prepared the ground for corruption. Was not the entire matter going on Akhilesh's directions?"

The Energy Department portfolio was with Akhilesh at that time, he pointed out.