Complaint against Sheila Dikshit for misusing government funds

NEW DELHI: Over a week after Delhi Lokayukta indicted Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for allegedly misusing government funds in an advertisement campaign ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls, a complaint has been filed before a court here seeking registration of FIR against her and others.

The complaint moved before a Special court seeks lodging of FIR against Dikshit, some ministers, directorate of advertisement and publicity in the Delhi government and officials of its department of Finance.

It seeks registration of FIR under section 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and also under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The matter has been posted for hearing on June 6. RTI activist Vivek Garg in his complaint said the Lokayukta has held that the Chief Minister abused her official position with malafide intention and carried out advertisement campaign for obtaining wrongful gains to win the 2008 Assembly elections of Delhi.

The complaint said the inquiry conducted by the Lokayukta is itself a prime evidence of cognizable offence.

The Delhi Lokayukta had on May 22 indicted Dikshit for allegedly misusing government funds for carrying out an advertisement campaign with a "political purpose" ahead of the last Assembly polls.

Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to caution Dikshit for the alleged misuse of public funds and to "advise" her to reimburse either herself or through her party a sum of Rs 11 crore as half the cost of the advertisements in 2008 or any amount the President finds adequate.