Bus case: Prelim investigation report, points 'irregularities'

The anti-corruption branch (ACB) has filed a preliminary investigation report pointing out several "irregularities" in connection with the AAP government's ambitious app-based Premium Bus Service Scheme.
The irregularities pointed out in it include alleged misinterpretation of the Motor Vehicles Act to suit the scheme, absence of any limit on the number of buses or routes under it and not putting its proposal on the public domain, a source in ACB said today.
He further said, all bus operators except one had opposed the scheme in connection with which a notification was issued on the Lieutenant Governor's name without his prior approval. Also, the finance and law departments were "not consulted" with regard to the same.

Almost all the "irregularities" mentioned in the report were first pointed out by BJP legislator Vijender Gupta, on whose complaint a probe into the matter was iniated by ACB chief M K Meena.
The source said, Delhi Traffic Police was also "not consulted" in connection with the scheme and its notification was issued without the high court's approval.
The cabinet note regarding the same was borrowed from Delhi Dialogue Commission's proposal and it was signed by former transport minister Gopal Rai, and not any secretary in the transport department, he claimed.
Rai had voluntarily presented himself before the ACB yesterday and claimed the probe agency is "totally clueless" to substantiate the graft charges in the scheme.

Rai, accompanied by senior officials of Transport Department, also met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and asked him for evidence which proves corruption in this bus scheme, alleging that the move is totally "politically motivated" to "defame" it.