ACB begins probe into 'irregularities' in sewer project

The Anti-Corruption Branch has launched a probe into the allegation of irregularities in carrying out a sewer project in Delhi.

RACO (Roads Anti-Corruption Organisation), an organisation which claims to monitor construction projects in the national capital, had alleged that a firm linked to Surender Kumar Bansal, the brother-in-law of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was involved in financial irregularities in building a drainage system in north-west Delhi.

It had alleged that the bills sent to the PWD for the works, which were not completed, were "false and fabricated".

The ACB had sent a notice to the PWD asking it to share the details and the latter had shared certain files with the anti-graft body in this regard, said a senior official.

The files were being studied and the ACB will seek more files from the PWD, he added.

The complainant, Rahul Sharma of RACO, has been questioned once. He has been asked to appear again before the ACB officers in the next couple of days, said the official.

Sharma had alleged that M/s Renu Construction Company, operated by Bansal, was awarded the contract to build a drainage in north-west Delhi's Bakoli village in April, 2015.

"It had, in 2015-16, obtained a contract for the works which were never completed, while the payments were cleared.

Even the bid and its technical marks were manipulated," the complaint, dated January 9, had alleged.

The invoices (purportedly obtained through an RTI application by RACO from the PWD) pertaining to the project were sent to the Sales Tax department for verification. The department had informed in writing that the bills sent to the PWD were false and fabricated, Sharma had alleged.