Another scam in Delhi govt? ACB to investigate into drain cleaning corruption

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has launched an investigation into a high-profile corruption scandal involving the Public Works Department (PWD). The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) will probe allegations of widespread fraud and misappropriation of funds, estimated at ₹80 crore, related to drain cleaning projects in the Palam area. The investigation will focus on PWD engineers and officials accused of manipulating tender prices and submitting false bills for services, sparking concerns of large-scale embezzlement and abuse of power.

Fraudulent payments to single contractor

The allegations came to light through a complaint filed by municipal councillor and lawyer Amit Kharkhari. The complaint accuses PWD engineers and officials of colluding to issue fraudulent payments of about ₹80 crore to a single contractor across just two divisions of the PWD from 2021-22 to 2024-25. This payment was allegedly made through fake billing practices.

Details of the complaint

According to Kharkhari's complaint to Governor Saxena, the Delhi government is accused of making fraudulent payments through inflated tender rates and bogus billing for drain cleaning. The complaint also highlights a shortage of Super-Sucker machines, leading to the employment of manual scavengers by the contractor. In response to these accusations, the Governor has instructed the Chief Secretary to ensure a thorough investigation by the ACB and to provide a prompt report on the actions taken.

Allegations of misuse

The issue of alleged misuse of approximately ₹80 crore has been a topic of discussion for some time. The corruption case pertains to the removal of silt in the PWD’s South West Road-I and South West Road-II divisions in the Palam area. The Lt. Governor’s Principal Secretary has informed the Chief Secretary about the Lt. Governor’s directive for an ACB investigation.

Specific allegations listed in the complaint

The complaint outlines several serious charges against PWD officials:

•  Corruption during the cleaning of drains in the 2022 monsoon season.
•  Irregularities in the installation of sewage pumps at various locations in Jaffarpur.
•  Discrepancies in work measurements, leading to double payments for the same work.
•  Reporting non-existent work as necessary.
•  Misuse of sub-division tenders.
•  Violation of tender rules and promotion of manual scavenging practices.
• Significant increases in tender rates and misuse of funds.
•  Fraudulent billing over four consecutive years.
• Obstruction of RTI applications and attempts to cover up the corruption.
•  Manipulation of the NIT (Notice Inviting Tender) process and creation of inflated bills.
•  Fraudulent payments and awarding of contracts to the same contractor.

Accusations against officials

The complaint, submitted to the Lt. Governor on August 11, alleges that the officials involved in the project are deeply engaged in irregularities. These include misuse of government funds, disregard for tender norms and serious corrupt practices. It is claimed that a single contractor was unjustly awarded the drain cleaning contract, violating established criteria and causing significant harm to the public treasury.