Delhi BJP on Saturday applauded the move of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to order an investigation by registering an FIR into the alleged scam of Rs 20 crore against Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, bank authorites and private firm.
The BJP also said that the Delhi government, immersed in the throes of corruption, is sitting silent even after eight years on the fraud and embezzlement of funds.
The Leader of Opposition of Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri appreciated the Lt Governor move saying that this AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal has been indulged in making money to spread its wing across India. The DJB scam has again exposed the Kejriwal government’s tall claim to be ‘kattar honest government’.
“It clearly indicates that they had collusion with the bank officials. The DJB and bank officials were aware from the beginning about non-deposit of money. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate why the Board headed by the CM maintained this softness to the bank even after such a huge irregularities. Clearly, without the consent of Kejriwal, such a scam could not have happened. Therefore, all these allegations should also be investigated,” said Bidhuri adding that interestingly, his deputy Manish Sisodia is the minister of DJB.
On the other hand, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta held a press conference saying DJB had entered into an agreement with Corporation Bank (now Union Bank of India) in the year 2012 on collection of bills from customers under which people can deposit their water bills in the bank. The deal was handed over by the bank to another company Fresh Pay on the same day.
Gupta said the bank also sought a bank guarantee of Rs 1.25 crore from Fresh Pay Company, which was not in the original agreement. Surprisingly, this Fresh Pay company also gave the responsibility of collecting money to another company Arum E-Payment. Thus the original agreement has been sublet to the third company.
“In June 2020, the Jal Board told the bank that the amount received from the customers was not deposited in its account. In this way Rs 20 crore of Jal Board was embezzled, but the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Kejriwal did not take any action on it,” Gupta said.
Gupta further said that this fraud case in the year 2019 is unique in itself. Jal board not only extended the contract but also increased the amount paid to the fraudsters by relaxing their conditions of service instead of recovering money or punishing them.