Delhi government suspends three officials for corruption

 New Delhi, Dec 26 The Delhi government on Saturday suspended three transport department officials over alleged corruption in issuing fresh Letters Of Interest (LOIs) for three-wheelers.

The three officials of the Delhi Transport Department - Deputy Commmissioner (auto rickshaw unit) Roy Biswas, inspector Manish Puri, and Anil Yadav, a clerk - were placed under suspension with immediate effect after a high-level meeting, chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday morning.

"Three officials of transport department being suspended. Corruption in issuing fresh letter of interests for 3-wheelers," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said he received some complaints on Wednesday about irregularities in issuance of Letter of Intents (LOIs) to auto drivers at Burari Authority of Transport Department.

"I held a meeting with Joint Commissioner (Transport) and other senior officers on the next day, and issued directions to enquire into the matter," he said.

Kejriwal received an SMS from some autorickshaw drivers regarding certain irregularities in distribution of Letters of Intent on Friday evening, following which he called up Gopal Rai and came to know that the matter had been already brought to his notice.

The chief minister convened a meeting with his cabinet ministers and senior government officials on Saturday, leading to suspension of the three officials.

The transport minister had made a preliminary enquries in which two kinds of irregularities were revealed- the LOIs were issued on pick and choose basis despite orders of the Transport Minister to follow chronological order and the LOIs were being handed over to certain intermediaries/unauthorized persons instead of the beneficiaries/applicants.

All 932 LOIs issued by the transport department till date are scrapped. The exercise of issuing LOIs has been put on hold.

"The matter has been referred to Vigilance Department of Government of NCTD (National Capital Territory of Delhi) for further enquiry. The matter will be referred to CBI for investigation if so warranted on the basis of report of Vigilance Department," the transport minister added.