MCD ghost staff scam:HC grants police 3 mnth to complete probe

The Delhi High Court has granted three months time to police to complete its investigation into the existence of large number of "ghost employees" in the erstwhile MCD.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru granted time on an application of police for extension of time to complete the probe.
Appearing for police Standing Counsel Zubeda Begum said seven FIRs have been registered out of which in two cases chargesheets were filed, in two other cases chargesheets are ready and to be filed before the court in four weeks.
The counsel also said in three cases probes are in advance stage and further time was required to complete them.

In August last year, the high court had disposed of a PIL that was filed by NGO Jagrook Welfare Society and asked police to complete the probe and prosecute the culprits.
The NGO had alleged that there existed thousands of ghost employees on the civic body's payroll who never came to work but drew regular salaries from public fund.

The court had then asked the crime branch to begin a probe and verify if the allegations were true.
In March last year, police had told the court that investigation is likely to yield arrests with higher-ups in the civic agency under scanner.

The court had then asked MCD to furnish a list of "appointing authority", that is names of those who appointed the missing employees and cleared payments for them.
Further, the court had given a week to the civic agency to furnish the list of names.
The court's direction came after police complained to the bench that MCD had failed to provide the list of these officers. The court had sought a progress report from cops by April 20, 2012.