New Delhi: Pointing at yet another purported scam under the Sheila Dikshit regime, Delhi government on Friday asked its Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to probe alleged irregularities worth Rs 184 crore in the construction of the Ring Road bypass ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
On the basis of Delhi government's request, ACB had on Thursday registered an FIR to probe the multi-crore street lighting scam in which Dikshit's role has come under the scanner. The decision was taken on the basis of the Prime Minister-appointed high-level Shunglu Committee report which had alleged that financial lapses had occurred in the construction work for the bypass from Salimgarh Fort to Velodrome Road.
ACB has so far not registered an FIR in this case, official sources said. The project was awarded to private contractors in two parts Package I for works on flyovers, and Package II related to the major part of work on roads at a cost of Rs 407 crore, according to a press release issued late in the evening by Delhi government.
It is alleged that the private contractor had inflated charges for the use of men and material in the project. The alleged loss to the government is estimated to be Rs 184 crore, it said. Delhi government alleged "many significant irregularities, omissions and commissions" during the entire tender process for 14 projects related to the 2010 event. These works were estimated to be of over Rs 1,500 crore.
It alleged that a cartel was formed by contractors who entered into a nexus with government officials for carrying out the works, leading to a loss of Rs 198 crore to the exchequer. "Loss of this magnitude could not have occurred without the knowledge, support and collusion of functionaries at the highest level of the executive.
"Accordingly, the government of NCT of Delhi has referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Branch for a thorough and impartial investigation and necessary action," the release added. The Commonwealth Games, held here between October 3-14, 2010, was marred by allegations of corruption to the tune of several hundred crores.
The allegations had prompted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appoint a High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of former Comptroller and Auditor General VK Shunglu to look into the matter. The committee submitted six reports to the Prime Minister's Office. These reports are being examined by a Group of Ministers headed by Defence Minister AK Antony.
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