Uttar Pradesh orders inquiry into Durga Shakti case

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government today ordered an inquiry into the case of suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, a day 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 told PTI.

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.

Though speculations are rife that Nagpal's suspension may be revoked soon following her reported meeting with Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav to explain her point of view on the demolition of the structure.