FIR against Kejriwal, Sheila in water tanker scam

New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) A FIR was registered against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his predecessor Sheila Dikshit on Monday in connection with the water tanker scam by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) which also said that the two could be called for questioning.

ACB chief M.K. Meena told IANS that the FIR was registered on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Vijender Gupta against Kejriwal "for causing delay and not cancelling the contract for water tankers".

Reacting to the ACB's move, Kejriwal sought to drag Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the controversy and said that the FIR against him only proves that Modi has accepted that he is in direct confrontation with the Aam Aadmi Party chief.

"Mujhe Khushi hai ki apne sweekar kiya ki aapki ladai sidhe mujhse hai (I am happy you have accepted that your direct confrontation is with me),” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Citing the famous couplet "Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai, Dekhna Hai Zor Kitna Bazu-e-Katil Me Hai", he also posted: “Modiji we do not fear your agencies like CBI, ACB.”

“All the probe agencies are under your control. You have unleashed CBI, police and ACB on me. You got a CBI raid conducted on me (but) got nothing. Now I welcome your FIR,” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra had earlier filed a complaint with Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and Prime Minister Modi against Dikshit in the scam.

Jung last week has cleared a probe against Dikshit in the alleged Rs 400 crore water tanker scam.

Meena said that ACB had received a complaint from Mishra that they got an inquiry conducted and found out that the scam was done during Dikshit government.

Delhi's Leader of Opposition Gupta then said that in spite of the report, no action was taken to cancel the contract and that is why a case was registered against Kejriwal under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, he added.

"FIR is against both the previous Delhi government and the present government. Now let's see what comes up during the investigation. Kejriwal and Dikshit might be questioned,” Meena added.

The AAP government in June 2015 had constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012 during Dikshit's rule.

Its report submitted to Kejriwal in August 2015 highlights alleged corruption of Rs 400 crore in the process of awarding tenders for hiring water tankers, and recommended FIR against Congress leader Dikshit and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ACB.