Last week, Shambhu Prasad Singh, the former political advisor of Union Minister VK Singh was arrested for alleged fraud, cheating and forgery.
Of the four FIRs filed against him, the first is based on a complaint by VK Singh's Private Secretary Surjeet Singh, who accused Shambhu Prasad of “tarnishing the name and image of Hon’ble (Minister) by duping people… misusing his position… impersonating and cheating as staff of Hon’ble Minister” and “for taking illegal and unauthorised possession of files, documents…which are properties of the office of the Hon’ble Minister," reported The Indian Express.
The complaint further said that after having worked for six months, the MP received complaints about Prasad trying to "make illegal money". He was warned, but after some time, went back to the "nefarious activities”, which he continued even after leaving the position.
VK Singh’s Change in Attitude Towards Prasad
Records show that the minister's attitude towards Prasad has not always been so and he had appointed the latter even after he had been arrested in a forgery case, and praised him.
In a letter to UP BJP general secretary Sunil Bansal dated 6 June 2018 in which he recommended that Prasad be appointed a secretary in the UP unit and put in charge of the party’s Small Industries Cell , Gen (retd) Singh had also praised Prasad's "sense of duty, integrity, loyalty and efficiency.”
In April 2017, Singh had said that five policemen of the Economic Offences Wing had “falsely” implicated Prasad in two 2013 FIRs, accusing him of cheating and forgery. He had asked for two of them to be transferred, as well as suspension of an inspector and two constables, The Indian Express reported.
In his letter, Singh further said that Prasad had been forced to pay the first class AC fare for the “comfort” of an inspector and two constables who were taking him to Guwahati and Shillong. Allegedly, when this "harassment" was reported to two senior Delhi Police officers, no action was taken.
However, Additional CP (EOW), Suvashis Choudhary said that an inquiry had been conducted after the letter was received, but nothing substantial was found. He added that Singh was informed about the outcome.
In response to a questionnaire sent by The Indian Express to Gen (retd) Singh on this matter, his advocate replied, saying that the matter was sub judice and "any speculative, untrue or suggestive reporting on the same shall invite serious legal attention.”
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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