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Secretary tampered with Taj files, says CBI

New Delhi, August 31
The Secretary in the Union Environment and Forest Ministry, K.C. Mishra, has been accused by the CBI of tampering with files pertaining to start of work at the controversial Taj Heritage Corridor project at Agra.

According to the CBI, which is carrying out a thorough investigation on the direction of the Supreme Court into the alleged irregularities and malpractices in the construction of the Rs 175-crore project, Mr Mishra made “interpolations and tampered with the file in order to cover up his omissions”.

The investigating agency has accused the senior official of tampering with the files to cover up his lapses in failing to approve the “proposal of the Joint Secretary and the Special Secretary” to ask the Uttar Pradesh Government to proceed with the work of the project only after getting the statutory clearances and approvals.

Efforts to get Mr Mishra’s comment on the CBI allegation did not succeed as he refused to take calls.

Though during questioning by the CBI, he is reported to have denied having tampered with files but the agency has still stated in its report that he did “interpolations” of the files.

On the directive of the Supreme Court, the “interpolated and tampered” files were being sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for verification by a handwriting expert of the notes made on the files.

Meanwhile, the CBI is now planning to question former Chief Minister Mayawati, as it found that the work was started at the site only after her office gave the go-ahead for the project.

According to the CBI, the project was started with undue haste by the Mayawati government and the work at the site began on the basis of “verbal orders” issued by the then state Environment Secretary, Mr R.K. Sharma.

The CBI has so far not found any basis for assessing the cost of the project at Rs 175 crore and alleged that work on the banks of river Yamuna was started without “preparation and approval of techno-feasibility report, detailed project report, detailed drawings and cost estimates”.

Accusing the Mayawati government of not sending the techno-feasibility report and other related documents to the Central Government for clearance before commencing work, the CBI said the work at the site was started without signing of any agreement between the state government and the National Project Construction Corporation (NPCC). — PTI