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| Kundal's probe report ready | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Sep 30
In what may come as a shiver for some Forest Officers, the Financial Commissioner Home, BR Kundal is all set to submit his inquiry report to the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Kundal was appointed inquiry officer by the Chief Minister after divesting the Peoples Democratic Party leader Qazi Mohammad Afzal of his Forest portfolio on September 2. The inquiry committee was asked to finalise the report within 23 days but they are reported to have done the job even before that.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Irshad Ahmed Khan, who is known for his difference with the embittered Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal has been a part of the inquiry panel. The Kundal led probe panel had also sought assistance of the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
"The 80 page report indicting many senior officers of the Forest department of misappropriation of authority is ready and will be submitted to the Chief Minister soon", said a highly placed source. He said that the Financial Commissioner Home is most likely to submit the report to the Chief Minister on Wednesday as Tuesday being holiday on account of Gandhi Jayanti and on Monday the probe panel members will do the necessary formalities.
Even though many had expected restoration of Forest portfolio to Qazi Mohammad Afzal upon return of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed from America but with the submission of this report on which action is keenly awaited, his future is likely to further hang in balance.
Kundal, has inquired into alleged large scale misappropriation of public funds in the forest department in a record time of a little over two weeks. Qazi was relieved of the portfolio on September 2, after reports of bungling in the department came to the chief minister's knowledge. Though, he was allowed to continue as urban development minister but later he resigned on moral grounds.
Azad added to the confusion by writing to Qazi after he had tendered his resignation from the council of ministers. In his letter, Azad not only gave a clean chit to Qazi, but also said that the forest portfolio would be restored to him after 'It was cleaned by him'.
Meanwhile, Qazi said: 'The prerogative to relieve a minister of a certain portfolio lies with the chief minister, but I am confident he would soon restore my portfolio as promised by him.'
Meanwhile, the officers of the Forest department are skeptical about the findings of the inquiry committee as the senior officers of the department who were known to have differenced with the erstwhile minister were a part of the probe panel. |
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