Spl court directs probe against Collector

Bhopal, May 2 (UNI) A local special court has directed Lokayukta Police to inquire into complaints that Indore's Collector Vivek Agrawal amassed wealth through corrupt means.

Special Judge R K Bhave issued the directive on April 30 on a plea by Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Premchand Guddu. The bureaucrat's wife Sapna and Indore's Deputy Registrar were also named as respondents.

The MLA issued copies of the order at a press conference here today. The petition was admitted under the Criminal Procedure Code's Section 156(3).

''The Collector illegally purchased a penthouse for Rs 26 lakh in his wife's name at BCM Heights, a commercial multi-storeyed building in Indore's business area and declared it as 'residential'. The government incurred a loss of Rs 190 crore in registration revenue,'' he alleged.

Mr Guddu alleged that Ms Agrawal's Permanent Account Number AJSPA9631L, as given in the registry, was actually that of Pune-resident Shahnaz, the wife of criminal Abdul Karim who is wanted in several criminal cases.

''An inquiry by a high-level agency is needed as the Collector committed several irregularities over more than three years of his tenure. He is being protected by a minister. After I raised this case, my family is being harassed,'' he said.

Alleging that a water park at Indore, run by his daughter, was locked this morning and several police personnel stationed outside, Mr Guddu added that his life was in danger and he would inform Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani in writing today and also alert Governor Balram Jakhar.

''Indore-resident School Education Minister Lakshman Singh Goud's death in an accident about three months back, while he was returning here from Indore, was suspicious and a high-level probe should take place. Influential people of Indore played a role,'' Mr Guddu added.

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