Fair Enquiry into Crinimal Complaint against the family members of Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney


At the outset we appreciate the decision of government, whereby Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney (ITS-1983) has been entrusted with the additional charge of Director (Enterprise Business) BSNL. But, for the facts as came to our notice and stated hereinafter, it is apprehended that the decision of entrusting Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney (ITS-1983) with the additional charge of Director (Enterprise Business) would be detrimental to the interests of BSNL as well as its honest officers.

The wife and brothers/sister-in-law (hereinafter jointly referred to as ‘owners’) of Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney jointly own a building in Bareilly (UP), which is lent-out to BSNL. For quite sometimes, the owners were disputing the rent amount. Finally last year, the owners illegally locked the building and took possession of BSNL assets worth crores of rupees lying there. Thereafter, the owners secretively dislocated these BSNL assets to unknown place. Following this incident, BSNL lodged a FIR in Prem Nagar Police Station of Bareilly against the owners for committing offences under Section 353 IPC (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), Section 379 IPC (Theft), and Section 406 IPC (Criminal breach of trust). Since the owners are influential persons of Bareilly, Police didn’t take any action and finally BSNL had to approach Hon’ble Allahabad High Court by filing Criminal Miscellaneous Writ Petition, which directed the State Police to conclude the investigate and submit the report before Magistrate. Thus, the matter is now subjudiced before the Magistrate Court of Bareilly.

In view of stated facts, it is apparently clear that there is conflict of interest in entrusting the additional charge of Directorship to Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney, who, being Managing Director, is likely to influence and affect the decision of litigant officers acting on behalf of BSNL so as to tilt the matter in favour of his wife and brothers/sister-in-law, more particular at the juncture when BSNL has also filed Protest Petition against the findings of State Police before the Magistrate Court of Bareilly.

In this matter, the instance of Income Tax Evasion and fraudulent enhancement of rent with retrospective effect has also come to our notice. This Association is trying to get the relevant papers so that the whole matter could be brought to justice.

Therefore, in light of facts stated hereinabove, it is requested to. –
1.              Review the decision cited under reference above;
2.              Hold an independent departmental inquiry into the matter, where this Association world be able to provide crucial evidence against miscreants: and also
3.              Restrain Sh. Banwari Lal Varshney immediately from occupying the post of Director (Enterprise Business) till the matter is finally decided by the competent court.
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