Delhi government recommends CBI or ACB probe into tanker scam

The Delhi government on Monday recommended either CBI or anti-corruption branch (ACB) probe against former chief minister Sheila Dikshit in connection with an alleged water tanker scam running into '400 crore. The move came after Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to make the report of fact-finding committee public on the alleged scam which had “indicate”-" that Ms Dikshit as the then chairperson of DJB and other DJB members had indulged in “grave irregularities”.

Taking a dig at Mr Gupta, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the Opposition Leader can take credit of “forcing” the Delhi government to release the report of fact-finding committee, but dared him to get the FIR registered against Ms Dikshit for her alleged involvement in the scam within next two months. “After recommending either the CBI or ACB probe by the government, Mr Gupta should assure us that he will now approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him to order registration of FIR against Ms Dikshit within two months. And if he fails to do so, he should then shave off half of his moustache and sit on dharna against the PM,” Mr Kejriwal said while responding to Mr Gupta’s allegations that the AAP government was deliberately not releasing the committee’s report to “shield” the former Delhi CM.

Water minister Kapil Mishra said that he has written to the Prime Minister and lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung and urged them to order either CBI or ACB probe into the matter as both investigative agencies directly come under the Centre. “I am requesting you to kindly hand over this matter to CBI with the direction to lodge an fir and take further appropriate action in accordance with law,” Mr Mishra said in his letter to the PM. The AAP government in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012, during Ms Dikshit’s rule.