Don't trust your staff blindly, Adityanath counsels ministers after Jitin Prasada issue

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, July 20

Not all is well in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, it seems. UP Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Jitin Prasada, whose Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Anil Kumar Pandey was transferred following allegations of transfer irregularities and corruption in the department, is believed to be unhappy.

Adityanath has cautioned his ministers “not to trust their staff blindly” and that no irregularity will be tolerated.

While Pandey has been transferred, five others have been suspended following allegations of irregularities and corruption in the PWD headed by Prasada, who quit the Congress a year ago to join the BJP.

An inquiry found Pandey responsible for wrongdoings in transfers, raising questions given that he was “handpicked by Prasada for the job”.

UP power corridors are rife with speculation that “corruption and irregularities in transfers are not possible without the knowledge of the top leadership”.

Five officials, including PWD head and chief engineer Manoj Gupta, were suspended after action was taken against Pandey on July 18.

Taking note of the complaints of irregularities in transfers in the PWD, Adityanath had ordered a probe on July 12. The probe report was submitted on July 16. Based on the recommendation of the report, action was taken, a government spokesperson said.