New Delhi (Sputnik) — The title of the Indian news channel ABP News sting-op "CM Ke Naak Ke Neeche" — implying corruption under the CM's very nose — has had its desired effect. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an inquiry into the allegations on clear display in the sting-op video.
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Caught in the act of crass negotiation of bribes linked to the awarding of contracts for mining, supplies of school books, and government employee transfers, the video footage had on tape the personal secretaries of ministers from the Ministry of Backward Class Welfare Om Prakash Rajbhar, Minister of State for Mining, Excise and Prohibition Ms Archana Pandey and the Minister of State for Basic, Secondary and Higher Education Sandeep Singh. These three secretaries have been ordered suspended by Yogi Adityanath with immediate effect.
Om Prakash Kashyap, private secretary to minister Om Prakash Rajbhar was seen demanding a bribe of Rs 40 lakhs ($57,100) for a transfer of a government employee. Likewise, Santosh Awasthi working as secretary to Sandeep Singh was heard in the tape asking for a cut in the supply contract for free books in government schools. Secretary to minister Archana Pandey, S P Tripathi, was caught negotiating a bribe percentage for mining contract in six districts.
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None of the ministers have made any comments as of yet.
But a state government release has said, "The Chief Minister has directed for a zero-tolerance policy in his state on corruption. The government will take effective action on corruption complaints".