UP orders inquiry into Nagpal case

Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government ordered an inquiry into the case of suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, almost a week after she filed her reply to the charge sheet served on her. The government has asked Principal Secretary (Home), RM Srivastava to conduct an inquiry into all aspects of the case. "I have been verbally asked to conduct an inquiry into the case, though I am still awaiting formal orders in this regard," Srivastava said.

Srivastava would visit Gautam Budh Nagar and go into all the aspects of the matter, and is likely to submit his reply at the earliest. Formal orders in this regard have to be issued by the state's appointment department. The government decided to appoint an inquiry officer in the case after the reply filed by Nagpal "did not match government records, particularly pertaining to the ownership of the land" on which the under-construction mosque, which was demolished on her orders, had existed in Kadalpur village on July 27, sources in the government said. According to the reply submitted by Nagpal, the land belonged to 'gram sabha', but government records say otherwise. Sources said that while Nagpal claimed that she acted under the instructions of a senior officer, a government report suggested that she went on her own.