Chandigarh, July 18, 2016: Three GMCH doctors, who had been allegedly accused of embezzlement of funds, today refuted all allegations against them in a press conference called by the members of Central Government Chikitsak Cooperative Group Housing Society Ltd.
The Society members have requested the Haryana Chief Minister to stay the malicious order of the ARCS and order a fresh impartial probe so that it gives a fair chance to members of this society to get their long cherished flats which are already 90 per cent complete. The members have also demanded an inquiry into actions of the ARCS, who allegedly prepared a back-dated report after being transferred.
Dr. B.S Chavan, President of the Housing Society stated that in good faith doctors from government service along with few doctors in private sector in Chandigarh thought of building their own homes themselves by forming a Society. He added, not having been allotted land for the same in Panchkula, the members bought their own land in Zirakpur and after getting the building plans passed for 48 flats and after taking loans from State Bank of India, started construction.
He alleged, “The society was approached by the landowner behind our land demanding path which was to pass through our Society. Since this would have spoiled the Society layout plan, it was decided to buy this land and increase our members’ strength to 99. Since no land was allotted by the government and no subsidy was taken, some rules of Haryana Cooperative Societies Act 1984 like informing Registrar, Cooperative Societies every time a decision was taken by the Executive or GBM were not followed out of ignorance but in good faith with consent of all members.”
Dr. Chavan alleged that Amit Mittal is a defaulter member of this society and has allegedly blackmailed rest of the society members, extorted money from them on one pretext or the other and now in connivance with the Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, Haryana Devender Beniwal, has been demanding unreasonable monetary benefits.
He added, “Mittal’s father was the Executive Officer of the Municipal Corporation, Zirakpur, where land purchased by our society was located. To get building plans passed, Amit Mittal extorted money from members and also got two flats forcibly allotted to him and his wife against society rules. He thereafter did not return money taken to get building plans passed, and also did not make any payment due from his end for the flats. When requested for the same, he started a campaign of misinformation and harassment with malicious intent.”
As per the members, the notice for liquidation of the societies was published in different newspapers in March 2010, which were unheard of and the Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies (ARCS), Panchkula, Beniwal’s report was given to them on 15thof this month.
“No notice of liquidation of society was received by any member of the society. Fee for audit deposited with the Registrar Cooperative Society, Haryana was not acted upon and consigned to files. In view of these issues, plus conditions raised by State Bank of India and after legal opinion it was decided to register the society in Punjab and complete the project under RCS Punjab”, Dr. Chavan added.
The members alleged, since Amit Mittal was not member when this society was put in liquidation as per Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, Haryana, hence his locus standi as a complainant is questionable. They added that in his absence there is no complaint from among the members of the society of any embezzlement as it existed prior to liquidation and hence no reason for paying heed to a mischievous complaint by a non-stakeholder.
He added, shenanigans of Mittal stalled work of the society for two years and members who were supposed to get possession of flats in 2012 are still waiting. Hard-earned money of government doctors, private practitioners, senior government officials and retired NRI’s invested in a hope of a residential flat and this has been denied to them by Mittal and now Beniwal and interest of 97 members cannot be put at stake due to mischief of Amit Mittal, he alleged.
Dr. Chavan also alleged that Beniwal demanded money from the executive members to give a favourable report on complaint of Mittal, which was refused by the executive members who have a written complaint against him for demanding bribe. He said this complaint is a reason for action by Beniwal.
Dr. G P Thami, Secretary of the Society said, both Amit Mittal and Devender Beniwal on being denied their unscrupulous demands have connived and misused the CM window by misrepresenting facts and tried to get FIR registered against three senior GMCH doctors to defame them.
Dr. Neeraj Nagpal, a member of the Society said there have been procedural lapses by executive body like not informing RCS or informing them afterwards, when conducting General Body Meetings, inducting new members, etc., but all this was done in a transparent manner with knowledge of all members including Mittal and information was later provided to RCS, which however cannot be termed as the serious offences as painted by the ARCS in his report.
He also said that members have invested huge amount of money in their dream and are being held to ransom by an extortionist and his collaborator misusing the CM office for their nefarious designs.