Suspended employee files affidavit against Mr Bali in Lokayukta

Shimla, Dec 5 (UNI) A suspended Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) employee today filed a chargesheet against former state transport and tourism minister G S Bali in the Lokayukta, alleging misappropriation and misutilisation of central and state funds.

''Out of a total of Rs 10 crore central funds, the minister had mis-utilised a sum of Rs 6.53 crore, besides several other instances of misappropriation of funds during his tenure,'' Mr O P Goel alleged, while addressing a press conference under the aegis of HP Employee Federation, here.

He alleged several tourism projects on which huge amounts of money had been spent were stalled by the minister, who also acted against the federation members and other employees on his whims and fancies.

Instead of acting against people against whom he had received complaints, Mr Bali normally acted against those who filed complaints, he said, adding that his suspension was proof of this.

Mr Goel alleged that half of the drivers and conductors of the state run HRTC, who had filed complaints against their seniors with him, had been suspended or chargesheeted by Mr Bali up till now.

The suspended tourism employee also sought a CBI probe against Mr Bali for his acts of omission and commission, many of which, he alleged, were continuing since the tenure of the previous BJP Government.

Federation secretary Vinod Kumar, who was also present on the occassion, alleged irregularities in the purchase of Volvo bus during the minister's tenure, saying that all norms were thrown to the winds for the purchase of the vehicles.

UNI