Lucknow: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided seven places here in connection with alleged financial irregularities of over Rs 111 crores in the construction of memorials and parks during BSP Supremo Mayawati’s tenure in Uttar Pradesh.
The agency has also filed a money laundering criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to investigate these instances after taking cognisance of a state vigilance department complaint of 2014.
The agency carried out the searches at the residences of engineers of the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam and private firms, a senior ED official said.
During its 2007-11 regime, the Bahujan Samaj Party government constructed Ambedkar Smarak, Kanshi Ram Smarak, Baudh Vidhar Shanti Upvan, Kanshi Ram eco-garden, Kanshi Ram Sanskriti sthal, Rama Bai Ambekdar sthal and Prateek Stahl Samta Moolak Chauraha in Lucknow.
The Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden also came up on 33 acres in Noida.
As per government records, the total cost of these memorials was Rs 5,919 crore while it was alleged that the said act “resulted in the loss of over Rs 111,44,35,066 to the government exchequer and unlawful gain to public servants and private individuals”.
The Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Department had filed a case against many engineers and officers in 2014 for alleged financial irregularities.
With Inputs from Agencies