The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Wednesday questioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s private secretary Bibhav Patel for more than three hours in connection with its probe into the alleged ₹400 crore tanker scam in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), a senior ACB officer said.
The ACB had recorded sacked Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra’s detailed statement last week in the matter and he is scheduled to appear before the anti-graft body again on Thursday.
‘CM influenced probe’
Summoning Mr. Patel under section 160 of the CrPC, based on Mr. Mishra's allegations of him playing a role in the suppression of a fact-finding report on the scam, Mr. Patel was asked to join the investigation related to the same.
“He arrived at 11.30 a.m. at the ACB office. His questioning ended at around 3 p.m. and he might be called again,” said a senior officer, adding that he had been asked to bring some files pertaining to ongoing investigation and these were being examined.
Mr. Mishra had alleged that Mr. Kejriwal had influenced the probe in the tanker scam that dates back to Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister. The sacked minister also claimed that Mr. Kejriwal’s aide had asked him to delay sending a few reports to the then L-G Najeeb Jung in connection with the alleged scam.
‘Investigation delayed’
Mr. Mishra had alleged that the investigation into the tanker scam was repeatedly delayed and influenced by Mr. Kejriwal and “his two men.” Last year in August, Ms. Dikshit was “examined” by the ACB officials in connection with her alleged involvement in the tanker scam besides being handed over a set of 18 written questions.
Till some time ago, Mr. Mishra had been accusing the BJP of shielding Ms. Dikshit in the case but after a falling out with Mr. Kejriwal, he alleged that the AAP government tried to protect her.
The ACB is preparing to probe the alleged role of the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) in the alleged water tanker scam. According to sources in the ACB, the anti-graft body is scheduled to issue summons to additional senior functionaries in the AAP and the Delhi government “soon”.
Notices to applicants
In addition, the ACB is also understood to be in the process of sending notices to applicants who applied for tenders to provide water tankers to the DJB to join ongoing investigation related to the said scam which is alleged to have caused a loss of an estimated ₹400 crore to the State exchequer.
