CBI probe into Delhi government's purchase of 1,000 buses

The decision of the Union Home Ministry after allegations of corruption worth crores of rupees

Last year, tenders worth Rs 850 crore were issued for purchase of 1000 buses and Rs 3412 crore for 12 years of annual maintenance.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has recommended a preliminary inquiry by the CBI into the purchase of 1,000 low-floor buses by the Delhi government, officials said in a statement.

Reacting to the incident, the Delhi government has denied allegations of corruption in bus procurement and said the BJP-led central government wanted to harass us through the CBI.

In March this year, the BJP had alleged in the Delhi Assembly that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) had committed corruption in the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for the purchase of buses.

Deputy Governor of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had constituted a three-member committee to probe the corruption. The committee recommended canceling the purchase.

The Deputy Governor asked the Union Home Ministry to take a final decision on the issue. On August 16, the Union Home Ministry informed the Delhi government on August 16 about the CBI probe. A letter in this regard was written by Govind Mohan, Additional Secretary, Union Home Ministry, to Vijay Dev, Chief Secretary, Delhi.

The letter, written by the Union Home Ministry, said it was writing in connection with the Delhi government's purchase of 1,000 buses. The case has been investigated by the Union Home Ministry and a preliminary inquiry has been decided by the CBI. Delhi BJP MLA Vijender Gupta had raised the issue in the Delhi Assembly.

He alleged that thousands of crores of rupees had been embezzled in the purchase. DTC had last year issued two tenders for the purchase of 1000 low floor buses. The purchase agreement was worth Rs 850 crore and the 12-year annual maintenance contract was worth Rs 3,412 crore.