Water Tanker Scam: ACB asks Accountant General to help in probe

New Delhi: Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has questioned the Accountant General of Central Revenue if any irregularities were practised in allotting contract of more than 350 water tankers by the previous Sheila Dikshit government.

The ACB was also trying to find out if the current Arvind Kejriwal government has made any attempt to delay the probe into the 358 stainless steel water tanker contract.

"The ACB has sought opinion from Accountant General Central Revenue and asked if there were any violations," ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena said.

When asked if appointment of a consultant to overlook the tendering process then, had caused a loss of Rs 36.5 crore to the exchequer, Meena refused to comment.

According to the official sources, the ACB has found that a consultant had been appointed arbitrarily on nomination basis, causing the loss of Rs 36.5 crore.

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Though the tender of a company was earlier rejected on the ground that it was the only application, work was later awarded to another company on the basis of a single tender.

Sources said the work was given at higher rates compared to the rates quoted by another firm at Rs 323.9 crore.

The Rs 400-crore water tanker scam involves alleged favouritism for private water tanker operators supplying water to areas falling outside the Delhi Jal Board's network.

Earlier the ACB had questioned Kejriwal's political adviser Vibhav Patel on May 17 and also summoned suspended AAP leader Kapil Mishra to join the probe.

With IANS Inputs