BMC official did banking transaction of Rs 28.40 cr in one day

Cong says the municipal incurred loss of Rs 28 lakh interest

Raipur, December 29, 2011

The Bilaspur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Yashwant Kumar has entangled in deep controversy as he is alleged to have done massive banking transaction of Rs 28.40 crore of the municipal in one day with an ulterior motive to benefit an individual or group. The Congress has strongly objected over Kumar’s act terming it dubitable and has urged Chief Minister Raman Singh to take prompt cognisance of the matter. The BMC Mayor Vani Rao, who hails from Congress, too has sent a letter to Chief Secretary P Joy Oommen on December 22, 2011 and requested him to take suitable action against Kumar.

The Congress spokesperson Rajesh Bissa informed that Kumar refused to give explanation to BMC Mayor on his banking transaction when the latter inquired and bluntly said ‘he did it because he had right to do it’.

Kumar is said to have abruptly opened account for the BMC at Central Bank on October 27, 2011. Then on the following day, he issued three cheques on the name of Central Bank. The cheques belonged to BMC’s accounts in SBI (amount Rs 10 crore), Dena Bank (total amount Rs 13.40 crore from two accounts) and bank of Maharashtra (amount Rs 5 crore).

“Since the amount was withdrawn before completion of third quarter of the financial year, i.e. December 31, the BMC incurs loss of about Rs 28 lakh,” Bissa said demanding from the CM to compensate the loss by fixing responsibility and recovering the amount from the guilty official.

He said transaction of such a huge amount without any reason comes under grave financial crime and urged the CM to ask the Finance department to conduct probe into the matter.

He alleged that Kumar acted on directives of one of the state ministers. “No official can take such a big step without protection of the government,” he said.

He further demanded inquiry into immediate loans sanctioned by Central Bank to the firms or companies after deposition of Rs 28.40 crore by Kumar. “The relation of these companies with the people related to the government should also be probed,” he added.