Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati on radar of centre's new-found CAG(ed) 'parrot'

In an unassuming move and apparently with the prior approval of PMO, “the tough” UP Chief minister Adityanath has ordered a detailed CAG probe into an alleged irregularities and scandals in land allotments and deals in Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authorities since 2005. The audit has been started and would put former chief minister Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav in dock who may have to face probe in the probable land scams. This is also seen as pressure tactics of BJP governments, both at the centre and state, to keep Mayawati and Yadav, under check and control because unlike CBI and ED, CAG audit was probe is always comparatively more flexible and can be twisted according to the need of the “circumstances”.

The audit is likely to open the can of worms as recently in a local fund audit a scam of Rs 17,000 crore was unearthed while examining Noida Authority itself. The CAG has taken cognisance of this expose and it will launch a massive audit exercise for in all matters related to land allotment and financial transactions. The audit is likely to come up with big expose and mass scale irregularities which had taken place in previous regimes.

This has created panic among officers and staff who had held key positions in these three authorities during Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav rule. The enquiry may also look into the “role” of a few powerful CMO officers during Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav tenure.

Political observers say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to press right buttons at the right times.  And his recent thrust on the office of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) gives a hint that the prime minister looks to position CAG as a central audit agency parallel to other investigating agencies like CBI, ED and IT departments. The appointment of bold and powerful bureaucrat Rajiv Mehrishi as CAG just confirms his intentions.

The office has become a potent force once former CAG Vinod Rai transformed it from just being an auditing office to a powerful force for accountability and transparency in governance. Before the infamous Common Wealth Games scam, which was first exposed by CAG during audit of account, central agencies like CBI and Enforcement Directorate were known for exposing such scams and grilling higher ups. But  Rai, who spearheaded this investigation, redefined and redesigned the significance and role of CAG. Rai through his team of auditors not only ruffled the feathers of central government by pinning them over 2G telecom scam and coal scam but also grilled Gujarat, Haryana and other state governments over several financial and policy based irregularities.

CAG, whose reports used to be just customary being tabled before parliament and state assemblies, then became tool for RTI and PIL activists to put pressure on governments.

In the same manner, the central government too got a potent weapon other than central agencies like CBI, Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate to keep state governments and its ministries under check.

"CAG is a better option. Its report is based on audit and accounts which are scientific and could be easily proved in the court of law. The use of CAG is a routine process and doesn't necessarily require any specific “consent” from the concerned state government like CBI moreover CAG probe is civil in nature unlike CBI’s criminal proceedings which might send the message of political vendetta against the political rivals. In this way,  CAG probe looks more decent and democratic.” said a senior bureaucrat in Delhi.

It seems Prime Minister Narendra Modi too knows the utility of CAG. He has already made central investigation agencies so powerful that state level agencies like ACB or vigilance or CID (Crime) have lost the steam completely.

Now Modi is ideally placed to position CAG parallel to other central investing agencies like CBI, ED and IT with his man Rajiv Mehrishi at the helm. CAG Mehrishi is known for his financial acumen and with the backing of Modi and Jaitley, Mehrishi is certain to take the office of CAG to next level, but of course with some  “political risk” in the coming times.