Delhi LG Approves CBI Investigation into Rs 223 Crore Corruption Case and Rs 60,000 Bribery Allegations

Delhi Lt. Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday granted approval for a CBI investigation into two officials from the Delhi government’s Forests and Wildlife department in connection with an alleged corruption case amounting to Rs 223 crore, according to officials from Raj Niwas.

In a separate case, Saxena has greenlit the Anti-Corruption Branch to conduct an investigation against two senior nurses from a Delhi government hospital in an alleged bribery case involving Rs 60,000, they added.

In both instances, Saxena sanctioned the investigations under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act. He noted that it is in the interest of justice to investigate and conduct inquiries against the accused, as per the officials from Raj Niwas.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Parasnath Yadav and Alam Singh Rawat, the then senior account officer and the assistant account officer, respectively, in the Forests and Wildlife department. They are accused of entering into a criminal conspiracy with LA Khan, the erstwhile senior branch manager of Bank of Baroda’s Paharganj branch, and others. The allegation involves the illegal and unauthorized transfer of Rs 223 crore from the ‘SUNDRY’ account to a fake savings account in the name of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) at the same branch based on a forged letter supposedly issued by the Forests and Wildlife department.

A file seeking permission to investigate Yadav under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act was submitted to Saxena by the Directorate of Vigilance through the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA). The Directorate of Vigilance stated that the CBI, in a letter dated July 12, 2023, submitted that the investigations conducted so far have prima facie revealed the role of two officials in the case of alleged financial irregularities pertaining to the Forests and Wildlife department.

In the alleged bribery case involving two women Health department staff, the Anti-Corruption Branch accused them of demanding Rs 60,000 each from two nursing officers for allowing them “light duty”. The accused, identified as Chanchal Rani Pisalla and Rajnesh Verma, were then posted at the GB Pant Hospital as deputy nursing superintendent and nursing officer, respectively. One of the nursing officers also alleged that both the accused had already taken Rs 42,000 for exemption of duty from the COVID-19 desk.