Suspension to Interpol notice, Yadav Singh weathered all

LUCKNOW/ NOIDA: His proximity to BSP chief Mayawati had people calling him one of 'Behenji's navratnas'. Though his fortunes dipped after Samajwadi Party came to power in 2012, he bounced back, with a suspension order on him revoked, a red corner notice against him being withdrawn and an inquiry into an alleged Rs 950-crore scam put in the cold storage.

Having joined the UP government in 1980, Yadav Singh was progressing slowly and predictably till Mayawati's government in 1997 changed all that.

It is alleged that in Mayawati's regime in 2002, he was elevated to the post of chief maintenance engineer directly from the post of an engineer. His promotion at the time was allegedly carried out after sidelining all other eligible officials who were senior to him.

Singh, a Jatav, gained Mayawati's confidence and she allowed him to handle key projects, including the construction of parks and monuments in the name of Dalit icons.

As soon as BSP was dislodged and Samajwadi Party formed its government in March 2012, Singh began facing the heat when an inquiry was ordered into the allocation of work to the tune of Rs 954 crore in violation of rules and regulations and reports of experts in Noida.

Singh was accused of masterminding the scam. The then Noida Authority chief executive officer, Sanjeev Saran, had a suspension notice pasted at Singh's house. He also got the office of Singh sealed while relieving him of his charges before suspending him. An FIR was filed against him along with two Ghaziabad-based construction companies — Tirupati and JSP — under various sections of the Indian penal Code, besides sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988), Gangster and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.

Singh then left the country and on the recommendation of the Noida police a red corner notice was issued by Interpol. A five-star hotel in Noida was sealed on the assumption that he had a stake in it.

But soon, the red corner notice was withdrawn, the hotel was re-opened and made functional and the CB-CID went slow on the inquiries into the scam.

Even his suspension was revoked in November 2013. The icing on the cake, however, was Singh being given charge of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authorities this month, once again as engineer-in-chief.

Singh now lives in a sprawling bungalow in Noida's posh sector 51 area. Even here, his misuse of power is evident: he has taken possession of a green belt in front of his house for his personal use.