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Two ministers complain of graft, demand AMC CFO's transfer

Agra: Highlighting the issue of corruption in the Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC), two junior ministers have separately written letters to finance minister Suresh Khanna against the civic body’s chief finance officer (CFO) Pawan Kumar. The two ministers are MLAs from the Agra district.

Following complaints received by contractors, minister Chaudhary Udaybhan Singh and Girraj Singh Dharmesh have demanded immediate transfer of the CFO and an investigation against him.



In the letter, Agra cantonment MLA Girraj Singh Dharmesh, who is the minister for social welfare, schedule castes and tribal welfare, stated that contractors working with AMC have made a serious allegation against the CFO that he accepts bribe and commission. There is discontent among the contractors. They have demanded the officer’s transfer. Kindly take cognizance of the contractors’ complaints and transfer the officer to some other district. Also, conduct an investigation against him.

The letter of Fatehpur Sikri MLA Chaudhary Udaybhan Singh, who is the minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), stated that contractors, in their application and also verbally, have brought it to my notice that the CFO in the civic body has been involved in corruption. Works of public interest are affected because of this corrupt official. These acts are damaging the corruption-free policy and image of the state government. If such an officer remains in the AMC for long then development works will get affected besides giving a boost to corruption.

Talking to TOI, CFO Pawan Kumar said, “The financial condition of the civic body has been very poor since past few months. Immediate expenses were much more than the income. Due to this, payment of a few contractors was not made on time. Few angry contractors made misleading complaints to the state ministers after which they sent letters for action against me. I am doing my work in a fair and transparent manner. I will provide suitable clarification regarding allegations against me in case asked by the state government.”

Meanwhile, mayor Naveen Jain said, “The allegations against the CFO will be investigated in a time-bound manner. Corruption will not be tolerated.”

Last year, a letter issued by late Agra North MLA Jagan Prasad Garg had created a flutter in the AMC. Leveling charges of corruption in the development works, the five-time BJP MLA had warned municipal commissioner Arun Prakash to stop taking 27 percent commission from contractors. He had also made a formal complaint to the state government alleging corruption in the AMC.

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