MHA initiates action against Rai's OSD over land transfer

New Delhi: The Union home ministry has reportedly initiated proceedings against labour minister Gopal Rai’s OSD R.K. Gaur for facilitating purchase and transfer of a property in the name of his mother while holding the post of the NDMC director in violation of the service rules. The ministry’s action comes in wake of a report filed by NDMC vigilance director M.L. Sharma, in which he has stated that a shop in Gole Market was purchased and transferred in the name of the mother of the Danics officer without seeking approval of the competent authority.

Seeking disciplinary action against Mr Gaur, the vigilance director said the matter was examined following various complaints received about unauthorised constructions and other violations in the NDMC area. The report, addressed to the joint secretary in the home ministry, said during the examination of a case pertaining to shop number 44 in Gole Market, it was noticed that the concerned dealing assistant Kishore Prasad, the then NDMC deputy director Himanshu Ranjan and Mr Gaur, who was the then director (estate) had conspired and illegally regularised various violations without the approval of the competent authority and thereafter facilitated purchase and transfer of the property in favour of the officer’s mother.

The report said that records showed that Mr Gaur had actively participated and misused his official position for personal gains by accepting the application for transfer on partnership basis from his mother and also accepted dissolution of the partnership in her favour.

“This act was aided and abetted by two other officers — Kishore Prasad and Himanshu Ranjan, whose cadre controlling authority is the NDMC and Central Board of Excise and Customs respectively and action against them is being taken simultaneously.”

The preliminary enquiry conducted by the NDMC revealed that Mr Gaur had misrepresented the facts while approving regularisation of violations, accepting the dissolution of partnership in favour of his mother and thereby misused his official position for personal gains in violation of the conduct rules and proprieties. The report said that the MHA should initiate disciplinary action for major penalty proceedings against Mr Gaur.