Graft flourishing under North Delhi Mayor: Vigilance report

NEW DELHI: Amid allegations of corruption by the deliberative wing of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD), especially by North Delhi Mayor Preety Aggarwal, the Vigilance Department has found more cases of corruption regarding the same issue.

A senior official from the top anti-corruption watchdog, in his report, highlighted corruption in catering services, sale of the large-sized plots, transport allowances to North MCD school teachers, among several others. A copy of the report has been accessed by Millennium Post.

The official's report also alleged that he faced harassment at different levels and was transferred by authorities of the deliberative wing, who also pressurised him to compromise overlook the corruption charges against the Mayor.

A resolution regarding his repatriation was also passed by the Corporation's House in the last week of February, he said, as a result of his action against tainted officials.

"A case regarding a serious complaint on the tender providing the catering services on the Diwali festival held at the Mayor's residence was referred to Vigilance Department for examination. It also involved certain personal staff of the Mayor's office," the report says.

It also states that a complaint was made by Justice Mudgal on the issue of tender of LED lights, sale of a big plot at Shiva Market and unauthorised interference with under-construction structures.

The report also explains that corruption took place within North MCD schools.

It noted, "All schools were closed for summer vacation and were to re-open on July 1, 2017. But the schools reopened between July 28 and 30. This was at the behest of the Teachers' Unions, so as to enable them to claim transport allowance for the month of June."

The report states that this could be to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore, which has been shown as extra expenditure in these schools.

The report also revealed that various officers in the said civic body continued their work, despite having corruption charges against them, that too on the instructions of the Mayor. The official also alleged intervention of the Mayor in official work.

"The Mayor, along with a camera and security guards, had entered the premises where evaluation of a tender was in progress," he alleged.

The report further mentions that every offer request is received from the deliberative wing for displaying their advertisements on unipoles and similar structures owned by North MCD.

The official's report stats that the Mayor even rejected various complaints against the defaulting contractors, who had dues worth Rs 17 crore.

He added that various property related corruption charges are there against the Mayor.

The report further claims that any complaint from the officials were not registered by the Mayor's office and no steps were taken to resolve such issues.