Cong seeks CBI probe into Mumbai LED contract

Opposition Congress today demanded a CBI probe or an inquiry by a retired high court judge into the award of LED street-lighting contract for the city and also Shiv Sena's allegations against two ministers in this context.
A delegation, led by Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, called on Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan and submitted him a memorandum seeking probe into the LED contract issue.
"We told the Governor that an article in Sena's mouthpiece (Saamana) by that party's MP Sanjay Raut had alleged corruption by two ministers in the LED contract," Nirupam said.
The delegation sought an investigation into the issue of awarding of contract of installing LED bulbs in Mumbai without following due process, he said.

In an apparent reference to Raut, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal had recently accused him of misleading people by making allegations of corruption in award of LED street- lighting contract in the city, and said there was complete transparency in award of the contracts.
Goyal, who belongs to BJP, had attacked Raut, who is also Executive Editor of 'Saamana' without naming him.

"There is one journalist in Maharashtra, who is trying to portray himself as the defender of Mumbai. He is writing long editorials regarding this matter and misleading people. These allegations are false," Goyal had said.
"I do not know if it is his personal interest or what is the reason to mislead people. He is claiming some private company benefited through the Central government's largesse," Goyal said, clarifying that ESSL, a public sector undertaking, is carrying out the task of replacing the sodium vapour lights with energy-conserving light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

The Minister said some people are "jealous" of the pace at which BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and at the Centre are working, but such allegations will not deter them.
Raut, who is also a Sena spokesperson, had recently alleged corruption in the LED lighting scheme.