CBI to probe Delhi government for 'irregularities' in purchase of 1,000 low-floor buses

CBI already conducting preliminary inquiry in the matter

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinay Kumar Saxena has approved a proposal to forward a complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the alleged corruption in the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the DTC, official sources said on Saturday.

A complaint addressed to Mr. Saxena in June this year had highlighted the appointment of the Minister of Transport as the chairman of the committee for tendering and procurement of buses by DTC in a “premeditated manner”.

It had also claimed that the appointment of DIMTS as bid management consultant for this tender was done with an aim to facilitate wrongdoing.

The complaint had alleged irregularities in a July 2019 procurement bid for 1,000 low floor BS-IV and BS-VI buses, and another bid made in March 2020 for the purchase and annual maintenance contract for low floor BS-VI buses, the sources said.

The complaint was forwarded to the Chief Secretary on July 22 to seek comments from the departments of the Delhi Government and consequently their recommendations.

The report, which was submitted by the Chief Secretary on August 19, had pointed out certain “irregularities”, following which Mr. Saxena has now forwarded the complaint to the CBI, they said.

The CBI is already conducting a preliminary inquiry in the matter, they added.