Page 11 - 30NOV2019E

corruption

In October, the ED had carried out with higher security and high interest Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav and linked the controversial decision to a under EPF&MP Act, 1952. were created with an objective to pro-
raids at eight locations including DHFL’s rates other than deposits of nationaliSed BSP chief Mayawati alleging corruption time when Akhilesh Yadav was at the e) While under EPF&MP Act, 1952 there vide superannuating service benefits to
headquarters for granting loan of 2,186 banks Triple A rated Companies. As per behind the investments of employees’ helm of affairs. Akhilesh clarified that is provision of pension and family pen- the employees who have yet to retire and
crore to Sunblink Real Estate, a company prevailing practice further investment money against policy. his government did not invest a single sion, there is no provision of any form another Contributory Provident Fund
which is under probe for its alleged deal- in securities will be decided by secre- Priyanka tweeted: “The employees penny of employees PF in DHFCL. “The of pension under CPF Rules 2004. Trust was formed to govern the services
ing with Iqbal Mirchi, who died in 2013. tary (trust) on case to case basis, with the are worried over that their hard-earned manner in which former CM Akhilesh f) The UPPCL CPF Rules 2004, have of post 2000 employees joining the cor-
The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) consent/Approval of Director (Finance), money is safe or not? One thing is clear Yadav always patronised arrested AP never been placed before Provident poration. The UP government contrib-
of UP police has arrested former Man- UPPCL trustee.” from DHFL-PF scam that BJP govern- Mishra gives a lot of reasons to question Fund Commissioner at the Central or uted 1,600 crore to the Trust to meet
aging Director, AP Mishra, Director However, the FIR of scam filed by pre- ment irresponsibly acted and divested the intent of those previously in power,” Regional levels, for seeking exemp- the GPF liabilities of erstwhile UPSEB
Finance, Sudhanshu Dwivedi and former sent secretary of the Trusts, IM Kaushal is employees’ money to fraudsters.” said BJP spokesperson Dr. Chandra tions under section 17 of EPF&MP Act, employees, who were sent to three newly
secretary of the GPF and CPF Trusts PK mum over the dates. State CLP leader Ajay Kumar Lallu Mohan reacting over the comments of 1952 nor any such exemption has been created corporations.
Gupta. The EOW took them on three-day Heated words were exchanged by alleged that promoter of defaulter com- Samajwadi party and Congress. granted by the competent authority. The creation of Contributory Provi-
police remand from the court of Judicial political parties between the Congress pany DHFCL contributed 20 crores ru- Mohan, further taking jibe at Congress g) They cannot override the constitution- dent Fund (CPF) is not in consonance
Magistrate Kshitij Pandey on 6th Novem- general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi, pees donation to BJP in its election kitty. general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, said, al GPF Rules, 1985 as executive order with statutory Employees Provident
ber, 2019. “It seems that by falsely accusing the BJP cannot override statutory or constitu- Fund Act 1952, as no exemption has been
Now EOW team will investigate them and Yogi government of the scam, Pri- tional rules. granted to UPPCL to run and manage
on the charges of unlawfully and fraudu- yanka Gandhi was actually trying to save Insiders revealed that the meeting provident fund. Employees’ Provident
lently investing employees’ hard-earned Akhilesh Yadav. There is clear partner- of the board of trustees had not been Fund Organisation (EPFO) grants exemp-
contribution money amounting to ru- ship between the Congress and Sama- called for over two-and-a half years. The tion under section 17 of Act where more
pees 4122.70 crores from their GPF and jwadi party when it comes to scams.” beneficial PF scheme than EPFO scheme
CPF Trusts in an unsecured private hous- Casting doubts over the current probe, is offered to employees.
ing company, DHFCL, between March 24, All India Power Engineers Federation The war of words Exemption from the provisions of the
2017 and December 2018, almost render- Chairman Shailendra Dubey, said, “How between the Yogi EPF&MP Act, 1952 can be granted only
ing 2267.90 crores unrecoverable. The can the probe by the UP government under Sec. 17 thereof, by the Appropriate
Managing Director of UPPCL, Aparna U, hope to unearth the culprits behind this government and SP Government (subject to such conditions
has been given marching orders whereas conspiracy, especially when the invest- has escalated over as may be specified) upon submission
its chairman Alok Kumar is facing heat as ments are linked with Dawood Ibrahim of a scheme of Provident Fund with re-
the employees are demanding his ouster and Iqbal Mirchi’s company and the ED the investment of gards to rates of Provident Fund no less
in the interest of a fair probe. was grilling DHFL officials?” provident fund money favourable than those specified under
The DHFCL future is under a cloud Leaders of deceived employees now Sec. 6 and Provident Fund benefits which
as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cite illegalities in formation and running of Rs 2,631.2 crore of on the whole are no less favourable than
imposed several restrictions on with- of the Trusts and argue that even before UPPCL staff in DHFL, the benefits under EPF&MP Act, 1952
drawal of funds from its accounts. This the coming into being of this Contribu- and Employees Provident Fund Scheme,
has raised serious concerns about safety tory Provident Fund Trust, the Board of which is alleged to 1952.
of deposits from UPPCL. There is no hope Directors of UPPCL framed Rules known The GPF Trust qualified the norms to
of any revival package for DHFCL by the as PCL CPF Rules, 2004. The said Rules, be a tainted company have exemption whereas CPF scheme
State Bank of India in view of investiga- 2004, are totally ultra-vires the Employ- is being run unlawfully so are its shady
tions initiated by Ministry of Corporate ees Provident Fund &Miscellaneous Pro- last meeting was held on March 24, 2017. investments putting employees money
Affairs through its serious fraud Investi- Samajwadi chief Akh- visions Act, 1952, and have no legal sanc- Employees did not get their contribu- at risk without their consent despite
gation organisation (SIFO). ilesh Yadav too slamming tity, inter alia for the following reasons: tory provident fund (CPF) slip (it shows being real stakeholders. The Yogi govern-
According to Power Minister, Shri- UP CM Yogi Adityanath status of their PF deposit) for the last ment has arrested three retired persons
kant Sharma, the seeds of the scam were over the issue of invest- a) UPPCL CPF Rules 2004 have no statu- three years. including its MD, Director Finance and
sowed during Samajwadi Party rule ment of employees provi- tory sanction as required under Sec.17 “Neither employees nor their lead- General Manager Finance.
when during a meeting on 24 March, dent fund in scam-hit DH- of EPF&MP Act, 1952. ers or any of employees and pension- The arrest of former MD AP Mishra
2017, the UPPCL Trustees took a decision Surplus amount of FCL, said, “Yogi Adityanath was so weak b) They are in direct conflict with GPF ers’ representatives, working as trustees sent ripples in political circles as he was
and were signed by five people- UUCL that even after wanting to remove the (UP) Rules, 1985, which have statutory to watch the staff’s interests, ever raised a blue-eyed boy of Akhilesh Yadav. With
Chairman Sanjay Aggarwal, trust secre- Rs 2,631 crore of staff’s Power Minister, he can’t remove him.” force. their voice against why the meeting was his arrest, the entire controversy has
tary and general manager (finance and “The UP government is just busy hiding c) While EPF&MP Act, 1952 provides not being convened or why employees taken a political colour, as people privy
accounts) PK Gupta, director (finance) contribution was the facts, even though key departments for 12% of wages as contribution by were not getting their CPF slips,” said a to investigation see no apparent role of
Sudhanshu Dwivedi, director (accounts) deposited in DHFL’s like power are facing a crisis today.” employer, CPF Rules 2004 provide for source. Mishra in these periodical investments
Satya Prakash Pandey and Mishra. He further demanded a probe into only 10% of wages as contribution and, The Power Sector Employees Trusts subsequent to his resignation. A deeper
The decision reads: “The board of trus- fixed deposit plan the issue by a sitting-High Court or a therefore, cannot be said to be more were set up after the trifurcation of erst- impartial probe would unearth truth
tee agreed to consider the investment between March 2017 Supreme Court judge. beneficial, by any standards. while UP State Electricity Board (UPSEB) behind scam.
proposals as per government’s notifica- This further escalated tug of war as d) The benefits under UPPCL CPF Rules in the January, 2000, as three separate
tion dated 02-03-2015 in the securities and December 2018 state power minister Srikant Sharma 2004 are far less than the benefits independent corporations. These Trusts letters@tehelka.com

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