Patna: The toilet scam is the latest case of financial irregularity that has been detected in the state. The Telegraph takes a look at the three persons who the special investigation team of Patna police says are the masterminds behind the scam, which involves siphoning off of government money meant to build toilets. All three are absconding after the FIR was lodged against them with Gandhi Maidan police station.
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Vinay Kumar Sinha, who is at present posted as superintending engineer with the Bihar Rajya Jal Parishad Ganga Pariyojna, Patna, is considered to be kingpin of the Rs 5 crore toilet construction scam in the capital.
The scam took place when Sinha was posted as executive engineer in the public health and engineering department (PHED), which was assigned to complete the project under the centrally sponsored Swachh Bharat Mission (rural) and the state government's pet scheme, Lohia Swachhta Yojna.
Sinha, a resident of Rajendra Nagar in Patna, had joined the PHED in 1986 and had been posted mostly in the state capital owing to his close connections in the corridors of power. The son of a noted surgeon of Patna, Sinha was promoted to superintending engineering in 2016 and posted with the Bihar Rajya Jal Parishad Ganga Pariyojna.
The cheques, through which funds under the scheme were deposited in the accounts of the non-government organizations, bore the signature of Sinha, who happened to be the member-secretary of the district water and sanitation committee headed by the district magistrate. Though the scheme was transferred to the rural development department with effect from July 1, 2016, Sinha continued to issue cheques to the NGOs in violation of the order of the state government.
Uday Singh
He is the chairman of the Adi Shakti Seva Sansthan, an NGO headquartered at Bakhtiyarpur in Patna. A resident of Hardiya (sector A) under Rajauli block in Nawada district, Uday is said to be the biggest beneficiary of the scam. His close relative, one Suman Singh, a resident of Kila Garhpad (Biharsharif) in Nalanda district, is a key accused in the scam. His secretary Manoj Kumar, a resident of Bakhtiyarpur in Patna rural, used to hobnob with senior leaders of the ruling alliance. Uday frequently visited the office of the PHED, which is the nerve-centre of the scam. A sum of Rs 10.3 crore had been transferred to the Sansthan's account with Allahabad Bank and Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank.
Biteshwar Singh
Biteshwar was posted as accountant in the office of the public health and engineering department, Patna East division. A resident of Vyapur under Maner block in Patna district, Singh used to countersign the cheques which were issued to the NGOs for the construction of toilets. Though the fund was to be deposited in the accounts of the beneficiaries, Singh deposited the money in the accounts of these NGOs through cheques. Police investigation thus far has revealed that Singh, in connivance with the office-bearers of the NGOs, transferred huge amounts to their accounts on a particular date and that too without the approval of the competent authority. Singh was served a showcause notice on August 31 this year. But he simply ignored it and stopped coming to office. The large amounts were transferred to the accounts of the NGOs between May 1, 2016, and June 23, 2016.
