Sheila Dikshit questions timing of tanker scam probe

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday questioned timing of lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung’s decision to order an investigation by the anti-corruption branch into the controversial DJB water tanker scam and claimed that allegations against her were politically motivated.

“The allegations are politically motivated. It was not my decision to procure the water tankers. It was a collective decision by a board, comprising the DJB CEO, engineers and experts. A BJP MLA and two municipal councillors were also part of the decision-making process,” said Ms Dikshit, who going by feverish speculation in political circles could be made the Congress chief ministerial nominee for next year’s Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

In an interview, Ms Dikshit said, “I do not remember the details of the procurement process. But I can confidently say that a transparent process was followed. The allegations were totally baseless.”

She also suggested that Mr Jung may have been under political pressure to order a probe into the case, pointing out that he was sitting on so many other recommendations of the AAP government.

Claiming that the AAP had registered three FIRs against Ms Dikshit in corruption cases around one-and-a-half years ago, Delhi water minister Kapil Mishra on Friday accused the BJP of “shielding” her in the alleged Rs 400-crore water tanker scam.

“The BJP is shielding Sheila Dikshit in the water scam which runs into Rs 400 crore. We had registered three FIRs against her in corruption cases around one-and-a-half years ago, but why is the BJP still silent on anti-corruption branch’s inaction on those cases,” Mr Mishra said.

“I have given all the evidence against her (Ms Dikshit). Now, it is up to the BJP government to take action and put her into jail,” said Mr Mishra, who had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Jung, recommending an investigation against Ms Dikshit in connection with the water tanker scam.

Responding to the BJP demand to cancel an agreement inked with a company by the Dikshit government in 2012, Mr Mishra said the move would only affect water supply. “Why does the BJP want us to cancel this agreement The BJP alleges that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sat on the fact-finding committee report for 11 months. I want to ask what proof the BJP has against the chief minister ” he questioned.

However, Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta termed Mr Mishra’s claim as “baseless” and questioned Mr Kejriwal’s inaction on the issue for 11 months.