Former UP minister held for role in scam

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Badshaah Singh, who was minister in the earlier Mayawati government, was on Wednesday arrested e by the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) of the co-operative cell for his involvement in a multi-million scam, officials said. The former labour minister in the previous Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in Uttar Pradesh, who had so far refused to turn up for interrogation on grounds of medical indisposition, came to the SIB’s office on Wednesday and was arrested after brief questioning, they said. Badshah Singh quit the BSP to contest as a BJP candidate in the state assembly elections held this year. He is accused of accepting a Rs50 million bribe to process release of government funds to the Labour and Construction Co-operative Federation (LACCFED). Sources say the SIB has ample evidence of his involvement in the scam, including documents detailing work orders and bills. The SIB is investigating alleged misappropriation of over Rs500 million from government funds meant for LACCFED to construct buildings, including mortuaries, signboards in Navodaya schools, ITI Bhavans, homeopathy hospitals, polytechnic hostels, employment exchanges, court rooms and veterinary hospitals in 2010-2011. From gulftoday