Lucknow: The UP government on Monday told the state Lokayukta that a CBI probe as recommended by it against its minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui cannot be initiated as the charges made against him were not related to any of his decisions or approvals taken during his tenure as minister.
"It is not possible to take action as per the law on the recommendations of the Lokayukta as there is no charge against Naseemuddin on approvals granted by him or any of his decisions and works as a minister," an official spokesperson said here. The government`s stand came four days after UP Lokayukta N K Mehrotra recommended a probe by Directorate of Enforcement, a wing of CBI, against Siddiqui and his wife Husna, an MLC, for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
He had said inquiry into the assets of Siddiquis is a clear cut case of money laundering which could only be probed by a crime investigating agency.
Noting that charges of disproportionate assets do not come under the its (Lokayukta`s) purview, the official said the Lokayukta has been informed that he is not the competent authority to probe such allegations.
The official further said such recommendations may lead to "legal confusions". He said the government has requested Lokayukta to inform the complainants in the case that they are free to approach the relevant competent authorities in connection with charges against the minister of setting up an educational society and evasion of stamp duty and other charges.
Meanwhile, Mehrotra said he has received an 18-page letter from the government in this connection and would comment on the issue only after going through it thoroughly.
The complaints against Siddiquis was lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, who had accused the minister and his wife of owning benami properties.
Chief Minister Mayawati has already dismissed six ministers from her ministry on the recommendations of the Lokayukta.
PTI