An activist from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who convened a press meet on Thursday to expose a water meter tampering scandal, found himself at the receiving end with scribes highlighting the inadequacies on his part.
He alleged that his water meter was tampered with by a person from the agency authorised by the Mangaluru City Corporation to issue bills.
AAP activist and Professor of Forensic Medicine at private medical college Deepak D’Souza said he had taken temporary water connection for a building he was constructing at Bendoor 2nd Cross. In September last year, an MCC authorised meter reader had accepted Rs. 2,500 to bring down the bill from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 6,000 and ensure that meter stopped working. In order to gather evidence, Mr. D’Souza called him again to tamper with water meter on February 7, for which he paid some amount and he recorded it on a mobile phone.
Journalists sought to know whether this did not amount to him being party to the offence. Mr. D’Souza tried to explain that he had done this to expose the tampering. He was asked why he had not filed a complaint with MCC, though nearly six months had passed after the first instance. He said he did not do it because he did not have evidence. He had, however, met MCC Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati who had asked him to come back after two days. When he was questioned as to why he had not paid Rs. 21,000 which was due from him to the Corporation, Mr. D’Souza said he said he had paid a deposit of Rs. 10,000 and would pay the remaining when he would go in for regularisation of the connection. “The bill given to me is for Rs. 6, 000,” he pointed out.
Denying his complicity in meter tampering by virtue of greasing someone’s palms, Mr. D’Souza said he allowed it only to bring such misconduct to light. AAP’s district unit treasurer Rajendra Kumar said Mr. D’Souza could pay the amount with fine.
MCC has issued notice to M.N. Computer Solutions, the agency hired for issuing water bills, seeking explanation over allegations of meter tampering made by AAP activist Deepak D’Souza. MCC’s Assistant Executive Engineer Naresh Shenoy said action will be taken against Mr. D’Souza for allowing the meter to be tampered with.
On its part, the agency authorised to issue water bills in Bendoor, has denied allegations. The firm’s Manager Harish Nayak said the meter reader had declined to take the money offered on February 7. In fact, the person named was not one meant to issue bills in that area. Mr. Nayak said the meter reader has denied having tampered with Mr. D’Souza water meter in September 2014. The Mangalore East police said no complaint had been received yet but the meter reader had already given his statement about it.
