AAP seeks CBI probe into 'pension scam' in 3 MCDs

NEW DELHI: Heating up local politics ahead of next year's MCD polls, Aam Aadmi Party today demanded a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in disbursement of pension by three civic bodies of the national capital and alleged that BJP councillors were involved in it.

In a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's Delhi convener Dilip Pandey claimed the "gigantic" scam, in the form of extending benefits to ineligible persons and siphoning off funds over the last decade, amounted to over Rs 2,400 crore.

Pandey alleged that councillors including BJP leader Vijender Gupta's wife Shobha Vijender, Pawan Singh Rathi and Bhumi Rachhoya were involved in "misappropriation" of funds.

"It is therefore prayed and requested that your office issue immediate directions to the CBI to exhaustively investigate the MCD pension issue and give its findings in a time-bound manner," Pandey wrote in the letter.

The wrongdoings had the "blessings" of top BJP leadership and AAP had no option but to approach the CBI despite its "lack of trust" in the investigative agency, he told mediapersons.

The Delhi government recently constituted a committee to verify beneficiaries of pension schemes of the three civic bodies for aged, disabled and widows, before considering the formal takeover of those from the MCDs.

The panel has been set up as per the directions of the Delhi High Court and has fixed August 1 as the date for further hearing on the matter.