The Hindu 27.05.2010
Police asked to probe MCD ghost workers case
Staff Reporter
| High Court calls for a report by August 25 |
MCD itself had conducted a probe into the matter
The petitioner had sought a probe by the CBI
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to investigate alleged existence of ghost employees in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and submit a report by August 25, the next date of hearing.
A Division Bench of the Court comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur passed the direction when non-government organisation Jagrook Welfare Society, petitioner in the matter, rubbished the investigation of the matter by the civic body on the ground that it was itself under suspicion on the existence of these employees and release of salaries in their names over the years.
The Bench agreed to the submission of the petitioner and transferred the probe to the police.
Earlier, the matter was probed by the civic body. The MCD had in February informed the Court that it had ordered an inquiry into alleged payment of salaries to as many as its 22,853 ghost employees and it was likely to be completed within four weeks.
The petitioner had sought an inquiry into the matter by the CBI or by any other independent agency.
The petitioner submitted that it had been ten months since the scam was brought to public notice by the media and later confirmed by the civic body in its in-house probe but no action was taken for prosecution of the culprits. It further submitted that it seemed the vested interests involved in the scam were putting pressure on the government agencies concerned to hush up the matter.
