Delhi L-G misused position to restore ration shop's licence: AAP

After an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator in Delhi on Thursday accused Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung of "misusing" his position to restore a ration shop owner's licence, the Delhi assembly passed a resolution to form a committee to probe the charges.

Burari MLA Sanjay Jha alleged that Jung restored the cancelled licence of a ration shop in Sant Nagar area, which falls under his constituency, without any authority.

He accused Jung of corruption and claimed the L-G was the kingpin of the ration mafia in the national capital.

"The shop owner concerned used to sell poor quality ration. As the locals complained, the shop's licence was cancelled after my intervention. But the shop owner approached the L-G, after which his licence was restored. It is a clear case of corruption on the part of the L-G," Jha said on the opening day of the two-day special session of the assembly called to discuss corruption in civic bodies.

The AAP leader claimed the shopkeeper paid Rs 12 lakh to get the licence restored.

"The shop owner now openly claims he spent Rs 12 lakh to get back his licence. Surprisingly, in his letter, the L-G recommended action against me," Jha said.

"The nine-member special inquiry committee formed will probe the grave allegations of bribery. It will also receive complaints on similar matters and investigate the same," an official statement said.

It added: "The committee shall exercise all powers and immunities available to the existing committees of the assembly."

The committee will submit its report to the speaker before the next assembly session.

Earlier Malviya Nagar legislator Somnath Bharti had supported Jha's charges and said: "The L-G has misused his post. He had no authority in the matter. A committee should be formed to investigate the matter."

--IANS

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