DJB scam: BJP seeks in-depth probe of Delhi CM’s role

The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, on Friday urged the anti-corruption branch (ACB) chief to conduct a critical and in-depth examination of the role of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders in the so-called DJB water tanker scam.

The BJP MLA refuted former chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s statement that when tender was given to the said companies, there were BJP members in the Jal Board. Mr Gupta claimed when the contract was awarded, no BJP member was present in the DJB.

He also claimed that if Ms Dikshit along with her teammates was responsible for creating the scam, then Mr Kejriwal, water minister Kapil Mishra and their team were equally guilty of giving it a lease of fresh life by ignoring the wrongdoings in the system and continuing with it. “Mr Kejriwal suppressed the report of 10 months. He took no action despite strong appeals by his own water minister,” added Mr Gupta.

The Leader of Opposition insisted that FIRs should be lodged against both Ms Dikshit and Mr Kejriwal. “Ms Dikshit is misguiding the ACB and people of Delhi by giving false statement that when tender was given to the companies, the BJP members were present in the DJB. That time no BJP member was present,” he said.

Mr Gupta alleged that the AAP government had slept over the key findings of the report that the appointments of the consultants had been done in a arbitrary manner on nomination basis, contravening the Central Vigilance Commission and Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) guidelines.

“It speaks of the high magnitude of corruption that the previous government awarded the work to some firms by accepting single tender and awarded them zones of their own choice whereas in past M/s SPML bid was rejected on the ground of being a single tender. Moreover, change of NIT conditions was carried out to extend unduly favour contractors, ignoring the government revenue,” he added.