Jal Nigam recruitment scam: FIR registered against SP leader Azam Khan, 4 others

India

oi-Madhuri

A FIR has been registered against SP leader Azam Khan and 4 others by Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam recruitment scam.

Speaking to media, Azam Khan said,''I had provided them jobs. There are no corruption charges on me or others. Those who have lied should answer to the society. If the intention is to harass us then so be it.''

About 1,300 persons were hired for different positions between November 2016 and February 2017.

Azam was the chief of Jal Nigam board when the recruitment was held. Following reports of irregularities and large scale corruption in the hiring process, the BJP government terminated 122 Jal Nigam assistant engineers from service in August, stating that their appointment had been wrongfully done. It also ordered a probe into the recruitment scam. 853 junior engineers, 335 clerks and 32 junior clerks were also appointed in Jal Nigam under Azam's tenure.

Jal Nigam was established in 1975 to set up water distribution network in UP, oversee its maintenance and provide sewerage.