A day after the state government's construction department secretary Chanchal Kumar gave RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav a clean chit, saying that he had not overused or misused government funds while renovating his bungalow during his tenure as Deputy CM, the present Bihar Deputy CM, Sushil Kumar Modi, reiterated his allegation that Yadav had in fact spent "lavishly" on the house, a Times of India report said.
On Friday, Kumar had cleared Yadav’s name, saying that the money was used for different things at different times and hence, the permitted budget was not exceeded, The Economic Times reported.
“No inquiry has been initiated regarding the alleged over-expenditure by Tejashwi on the said bungalow. Government money has been spent on the bungalow, but under different heads at different times. If it was spent together, it would have needed the approval of the cabinet or finance department. No extra money has been spent,” Kumar had categorically told reporters.
Yadav Spent Govt Funds Lavishly: Bihar Deputy CM
However, Modi said that Yadav had misused his position and spent extravagantly on the house, reported The Times of India.
“After all, under which rules did Tejashwi get furniture worth Rs 59 lakh fitted from the bridge construction corporation, besides renovations worth crores of rupees from the BCD?” he asked.
Moreover, Modi alleged that Yadav had had 44 air conditioners, 35 costly leather sofas, 464 fancy LED lights and 108 fans installed in the house, apart from a costly billiards table, wooden panel on walls, wooden floors and imported granite flooring, the report said.
Modi further said in his statement that it was Yadav’s spending that had prompted the building construction department (BCD) to issue guidelines on spending on government bungalows.
Modi had made these allegations in February, when he moved into the 5, Deshratna Marg bungalow, saying that it was evident that Yadav had overspent on decorating the house.
"Even the prime minister’s bungalow would not be as well-furnished as this. The person who stayed here thought of staying forever. Crores of money were spent on the bungalow,” Modi had said in February 2019.
Yadav had been allotted the bungalow in January 2016 when he was the deputy CM and it was re-assigned to Modi in 2017 after he became the deputy. Yadav had taken legal action but the Patna high court, in October 2018, ordered him to vacate the bungalow. When he moved the Supreme Court against the verdict, the apex court upheld the order and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.
(With inputs from The Times of India and The Economic Times.)
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