CWG scam: AAP government files FIR, Sheila Dikshit not named

NEW DELHI: The Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Delhi Government has filed a first information report, alleging cheating and criminal conspiracy under Prevention of Corruption Act in a Rs 90-crore project to install street lights before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The FIR, however, does not name former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

FIR has been filed against those who received "pecuniary benefits", including contractors who supplied street lights. Delhi's AAP government directed ACB to lodge an FIR in the case as it believes the project caused a loss of Rs 31.07 crore to the state. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had promised action against those responsible for 'corruption' in different projects undertaken for hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"The government has directed the ACB to conduct a thorough probe into the scam as there are certain serious findings in it by the CAG and Shunglu Committee,” Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Investigation in CWG scam was one of the election promises of AAP. The Shunglu panel set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to probe the scam had blamed the Sheila Dikshit government and four MCD officials for the loss.

According to the Delhi government, there was clear collusion with vendors by some officials and then chief minister or ministers. A firm, SpaceAge Switch Gears, which was disqualified by the Board of Assessors in 2007 was given the contract. The firm supplied low-cost imported luminaries at high prices making an undue profit of Rs 2.68 crore.

This is the second move against Dikshit and her ministers by the present government. Earlier this week, it had recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to issue an "advisory” to Dikshit based on a Lokayukta order for alleged wrongdoings in grant of provisional regularisation certificates to unauthorised colonies in 2008.

An AAP source said there can be more trouble in store for Dikshit as the Delhi government has decided to reopen a case, involving advertisements, against Dikshit. She has been accused of spending public money for personal advertisement.