Delhi government firm on probe in CNG scam
NEW DELHI: Delhi government is in no mood to step back on its Commission of Inquiry into the CNG fitness certificate scam despite lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung conveying to the state that the ministry of home affairs has declared the move “invalid and void ab initio”.
It is learnt that deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia took the stand that the probe by the commission will continue, holding the MHA order “unconstitutional”.
Sources said the state feels that the MHA does not have the power to overrule the decision of an elected government. Only the judiciary has the power to take a view on the state’s decision. It was also pointed out that the MHA cannot give an order as the issue of power of the state vis-a-vis the Centre is sub judice and there is no stay. The state has communicated to the departments that the probe shall continue.
Last week the lieutenant governor’s office conveyed the MHA view to the state. A press statement had said, “It has been clarified that Delhi government is not the competent authority to set up such an inquiry under various provisions of the Constitution and the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.”
The LG’s office had further clarified that the anti-corruption branch is looking into the entire matter afresh and has been asked to complete the investigation on priority. Notices have been issued by the ACB to all concerned, including government officers named in the original complaint.
Another turf war started after the AAP government decided to constitute the Commission of Inquiry to probe the scam in which many officials of the Sheila Dikshit regime were under the scanner. The commission will be headed by Justice (Retd) SN Agarwal, a former judge of Delhi and Madhya Pradesh high courts.
The CNG fitness scam surfaced in 2012 when ACB found out that Delhi government had lost over Rs 100 crore by the contract to operate and maintain certification of CNG vehicles at the transport authority in Burari being awarded to ESP India Pvt Ltd instead of ESP USA.