Tanker scam: Kapil Mishra’s statement recorded

New Delhi: Sacked Aam Aadmi Party minster Kapil Mishra’s statement was recorded by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Thursday over his allegations that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had influenced the probe into a Rs 400 crore tanker scam.

Mr Mishra had visited the anti-graft body’s office a few days back and shared evidence related to the tanker scam that dates back to Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister. Mr Mishra has alleged that the investigation into the tanker scam was repeatedly delayed and influenced by Mr Kejriwal and “his two men”.

Last year in August, Ms Dikshit was examined by the ACB officials in connection with her alleged involvement in the tanker scam and was also handed over a set of 18 written questions. Till some time back, Mr Mishra had been accusing the BJP of shielding Ms Dikshit in the case and later he alleged that the AAP government tried to shield her.

Earlier in the day, Mr Mishra said that he will visit the ACB “with more details on the tanker scam”. “I will go to the ACB at 12 noon today and divulge more details in the water tanker scam,” Mr Mishra had said.

Mr Mishra was referring to an alleged `400 crore water tanker procurement scam of 2012. when the Delhi Jal Board, with then CM Sheila Dikshit as its chairperson, “dodgily” awarded tenders to hire 385 stainless steel tankers from private companies. An FIR filed by the ACB in June 2016 mentions both the Ms Dikshit regime as well as the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government.

The Kejriwal-led AAP government had in June 2015 constituted a fact-finding committee to go into alleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the DJB. The Delhi government in June 2016 sent a report of the fact-finding committee to the then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung following which an FIR was registered in case.

Leader’s attacker a party worker: Police
A day after a man was caught for allegedly atta-cking sacked AAP minister Kapil Mishra, the po-lice said that the accused is an AAP worker.

The accused, Ankit Bharadwaj, is a chartered account (CA) by profession. He quit his well-paid job to work for the party. Sources said that presently he was working in one of the mohalla clinics of minister Satyendra Jain.

“He is a resident of Moti Bagh and on Wednesday came to show his anger over the jolt in the party after Mr Mishra’s allegation of corruption on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Mr Jain,” said a police official.

After the incident, Ankit was was booked under relevant sections.
On Thursday, he was produced before a court and sent to judicial custody for five days.