| 'Clean' Govt rehabilitates tainted officers | | Dalip Thusoo, Vinod to head JKPCC, ERA | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 19: Even as the PDP led coalition boasts as being "clean Government", the State Cabinet today gave away the prestigious charge of Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Project Constructions Corporation to Dalip Thusoo, who has a tainted track record of having previously worked in the JKPCC and other agencies.
From having been accused of giving wrong information to the Chief Minister, to spending lakhs on his personal trips across the country and scams worth millions, Thusoo has several cases registered against him. Today the Cabinet came to his rescue again giving him the charge of MD JKPCC.
Sources said PWD Minister Altaf Bukhari and a senior Congress leader had been pursuing the case of Thusoo's transfer to the JKPCC to allegedly meet their "vested interests." "This posting has been done not only for the benefit of PDP but also to meet some interests of Congress party as a senior leader of this party in the opposition was concerned about Thusoo's rehabilitation," said a source privy to the development.
Thussu however is not the only beneficiary of 'largesse' of the Government. Vinod Sharma, who has held several important positions in the past in JDA and ERA and faces several allegations of misappropriation and misuse of official position has once again been made CEO Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA).
Previously Thusoo was elevated to the post of MD JKPCC during the regime of the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad despite scores of reports of his wrongdoings. Though Azad Government ensured supporting Thusoo, he was removed from the chair and attached during the subsequent Omar Abdullah regime in 2009.
Thusoo, was attached with the General Administration Department, for providing wrong information to Omar Abdullah. He had reportedly informed a high level meeting chaired by Abdullah on July 9 that construction of auditorium of Srinagar Dental College had been completed. However, during a surprise visit to the Dental College, Abdullah found information given by Thusoo as misleading.
But Omar, whose Government was known for corruption subsequently rehabilitated Thusoo as Managing Director JK Housing Board. He was later given charge of Secretary Sports Council.
Sources said Thusoo was promoted as General Manager in JKPCC in 2004 on "fake recruitment rules" and in 2007 was promoted as Executive Director.
As per the proposal, the creation of the post of the ED for Thusoo was felt "extremely necessary" as if the JKPCC was about to collapse without him being as its ED. Strangely after promotion, Thusoo held the post for just few months and was subsequently promoted as MD in 2008. Sources said the post of ED was never filled up in JKPCC after promoting Thusoo as MD.
Earlier this year an RTI revealed that Thusoo during his tenure as Managing Director, JKPCC, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board and Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council misused public money for "private affairs."
Thusoo during his tenure as GM/MD in JKPCC, from 2007 to 2009 withdrew exorbitant airfare amounting to Rs 3, 62, 244 against his frequent air journeys, which were often believed to be his personal trips.
Sources said Thusoo withdrew Rs 1, 30, 265 for various tours within the State and Rs 2, 31, 979 for his tours outside the State.
Officials said Dilip Thusoo, as Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council had drawn Rs 6, 86, 733 from 17/11/2012 to 25/03/2014. In 16 months, Thusoo visited Delhi for 38 times and returned to Jammu and Srinagar on the expenditure borne by the department.
Thusoo over the years has been denying the allegations and has even managed clean chits from Vigilance Organization as well as vigilance Commission. |
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