Misappropriation of PM's Relief Fund: CIC for remedial action

[sidmis]

Expressing concern over alleged misappropriation of funds contributed to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), the Central Information Commission has sought remedial action on part of the PM's office.

The Commission's observations came following a PMO inquiry which purportedly revealed that out of a total of Rs 40.65 crores collected through contributions from employees of Coal India Limited (CIL), only Rs 30 crores were received by the PMNRF.

CIL has, however, denied allegations of any irregularities in depositing the money collected by it for the PM's National Relief Fund.
"In the light of the gravity of the information now disclosed, it is expected that the PMO will take remedial action in a matter where it would appear that the name of PMNRF has been invoked by a public authority acting in a manner most unbecoming," Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said in an order passed on Tuesday.

The inquiry was initiated after the Commission, in response to a Right to Information application of Chhattisgarh resident Mohammad Muzibur Rehman, had in an order of August 6 this year directed Director in the PMO D P S Sandhu to inquire into suspicions raised regarding misappropriation of funds contributed towards the PM's National Relief Fund.

The Hindu News Update Service