The Hindu : New Delhi News : Bid to derail probe into corruption in MCD

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 19, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Bid to derail probe into corruption in MCD

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, FEB. 18. The "operation clean up" launched in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has set panic among the rank and file. The corrupt nexus between officials and contractors, who are suddenly feeling the heat, have now adopted a new `modus operandi' to target honest officials including the MCD Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, and his staff by filing anonymous complaints to derail the investigation process.

Insiders in the Government informed that in recent days the crusade against corruption has touched a new high under the directions of the Lieutenant-Governor, B.L. Joshi, who has made it clear that corrupt officials or political leaders should not be spared. However, this assertion of Mr. Joshi and its follow up by Mr. Mehta has not gone down well with officials and contractors who have been rattled by this new initiative of raids and unearthing of illegal income and assets. Only recently the Central Bureau of Investigation raided the offices and residences of a number of senior officials including a Councillor of the Corporation. Also the decision of Mr. Mehta to ensure third party quality assurance for various items and works in the Corporation has been resisted at various levels including that by politicians. But Mr. Joshi had made it very clear that he did not approve of this kind of resistance and is understood to have given the go ahead to Mr. Mehta to carry forward the clean-up act and ensure that there was no victimisation at the political or official level. It is understood that Mr. Joshi has also sought details from the Corporation on the process adopted by it for initiating the drive against the corrupt officials.

However, what is most surprising in the whole scenario is the sudden surge in anonymous complaints against those who are waging a battle against corruption. The evil nexus between corrupt officials and contractors, who flourish on middlemen and touts, have adopted a new method of disrupting the whole clean-up process. They are understood to have been filing anonymous complaints with the various agencies including the CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission making "wild allegations" against Mr. Mehta and some other officials. Also on the hit list of these unscrupulous elements is the special secretary to the Commissioner, G.S. Matharu, who is also being targeted by some officials in the Delhi Government. "It is well known fact that Mr. Mehta and Mr. Matharu have a clean image and are known for their integrity. They are being targeted with such frivolous complaints with the aim of putting the current investigations off track. The last two and half years of tenure of Mr. Mehta has seen a large number of reforms in the Corporation and in some instances it has even left the Delhi Government behind. This is not being liked by many people and therefore such baseless complaints are being made or filed at various levels," a senior vigilance officer remarked.

The tenure of Mr. Mehta has also been marked by action against the additional Commissioner, Raj Mohan Singh, who was suspended and reverted back to the Deputy Commissioner level after he was raided by CBI. Similarly, no promotion was given to Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Kumar, after the CBI and Income Tax authorities raided his residence. This despite pressure put on Mr. Mehta by various political leaders and organisations. Similarly, the Director (Horticulture), Dev Pal Singh, had also faced raids by investigation agencies as had a Junior Engineer, Brij Pal Singh, who was suspended and major penalty proceedings were initiated against him. It is understood that half a dozen of officials are presently being probed along with some Councillors and some more action on this front is not ruled out in the coming days.

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