Himachal RERA Takes Action : Former Chief Under Probe For Fund Misuse

                Shimla: Former deputy advocate general Vinay Sharma has filed a complaint in the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau against former chief secretary Shrikant Baldi. He is seeking 
a thorough probe into the financial transactions made during Baldi's tenure as Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) chairperson over the last five years.
The complainant has also sought the registration of an FIR against Baldi under Section 13(1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In a complaint submitted to the director general of the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau on Saturday, Sharma stated that he learned from the media reports, based on information 
sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, that Baldi distributed free apples worth approximately Rs 10 lakh from govt funds to IAS and IPS officers across the country over a span 
of five years while he was serving as the RERA chairman.
When contacted, Baldi, the former IAS officer of the 1985 batch, told TOI: "I don't want to comment on anything."

A day after his retirement, Baldi had joined as the first chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh RERA on Jan 1, 2020. His term ended on Dec 12, 2024.
Sharma further said Baldi did this despite no provision in the rules allowing such expenditures. "This act not only raises serious concerns about financial mismanagement but also 
amounts to the misuse of public funds for personal and unofficial benefits," read the complaint.
The former deputy advocate general has sought a thorough inquiry into the financial transactions made during Baldi's tenure as RERA chairman, identifying and holding accountable any 
officials involved in approving such expenses.
He has also sought recovery of the misused amount from the individuals concerned and appropriate legal and disciplinary action against those responsible.

Source : Times of India