M A I N   N E W S

Missing file: MC told to lodge FIR
Principal Secretary writes to EO
From K.S. Ahluwalia

KAPURTHALA, Jan 23 — The Principal Secretary Local Self-Government has ordered the registration of a criminal case in connection with a missing file pertaining to a site plan of the house of Mr Ashok Kumar Aggarwal, President of the municipal council.

In a letter dated January 4, the Principal Secretary has sought a report from the executive officer (EO) of the council whether an FIR had been filed in connection with the file which was submitted by Mr Aggarwal in connection with the construction of his house. The Principal Secretary has directed the executive officer to file an FIR immediately if it had not already been registered. He has also directed the EO to verify the covered area of the house from an expert of the PWD and send the report to him regarding any violations in the construction.

The Principal Secretary has told the municipal authorities to recover the house tax from a flour mill belonging to Mr Aggarwal. He said the house tax should be reassessed.

On a rice sheller owned by Mr Aggarwal after obtaining an affidavit regarding the ownership of the sheller and to fix the responsibility for failure to recover the house tax since 1989.

Mrs Gurwinder Randhawa (EO) confirmed the receipt of the letter from the Principal Secretary and she has ordered the filing of an FIR. She said earlier an FIR could not be filed as the municipal engineer was transferred and the additional charge was with the municipal engineer, Phagwara. In his absence, the records could not be traced.

She said a detailed report was being sent to the Principal Secretary regarding the file and the arrears of the house tax.

Mr Aggarwal said he had no connection with the missing file. He said the building plan was approved in 1980 and had constructed the house as per the plan after depositing the development charges.

When asked about the arrears of the development charges, he said his flour mill was situated in the industrial area where development charges were not leviable.

Regarding the reassessment of the house tax on the sheller, he said an earlier notice was withdrawn by the secretary as it pertained to the period when he was not a member of the council.

The Principal Secretary has initiated the probe on the complaint of opposition members in the council.