The Delhi lokayukta has given a clean chit to former chief minister Sheila Dikshit in a case of alleged “bypassing” of rules to benefit a private firm handling government adverts.
The Delhi lokayukta has given a clean chit to former chief minister Sheila Dikshit in a case of alleged “bypassing” of rules to benefit a private firm handling government adverts.
The complainant, Ashok Kumar, had alleged that Ms Dikshit bent rules to extend benefits to Ved Pahuja and Associates. According to him, it resulted in a loss of Rs 73.28 lakh to the exchequer. Mr Kumar said the firm was appointed as consultants and engaged for all outdoor publicity even though it is not empanelled by the Directorate of Information and Publicity or the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.
“The forum observed that no purpose would be served by protracting the present proceedings, in which the complainant himself is not willing to come forward to press the allegations. And, in which, in any event, the documents on record do not substantiate the case of the complainant,” the order issued by the lokayukta on July 25 said. The order came nearly two weeks after Ms Dikshit was appointed as the Congress’ CM candidate in Uttar Pradesh.
Following Mr Kumar’s plea for a detailed inquiry through an independent agency to ascertain the actual loss to the exchequer, a notice was issued to Ms Dikshit on February 12, 2013, the order said.
“Perusal of the records, however, shows that the complainant has filed no evidence to substantiate his aforesaid allegations,” the order added.
