MLA LAD funds: Delhi BJP demands judicial probe into bunglings

In an RTI reply, it came to light last week that no utilisation certificate was provided by the concerned agencies for expenditure of Rs 404.76 crore under the scheme.

"The Lt Governor should order a judicial inquiry into the failure of the government to keep details of the expenditure to the tune of Rs 400 crore," Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta said in a statement.

The Urban Development department of the Delhi government had released the amount to a number of agencies during 2008-09 to 2010-11.

"However, no accounts were submitted by these agencies to the Urban Development department. In absence of the accounts it may not be ensured whether these funds were fully utilised or not and how much funds are lying unutilised with the agencies," a CAG draft audit for 2010-11, copy of which was provided under RTI to advocate Vivek Garg, said.

Holding the Delhi government responsible for the alleged irregularities in utilisation of the funds, Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta demanded punishment to those involved in the "bunglings".

All the 70 MLAs in Delhi get Rs 4 crore each under the MLA LAD scheme for carrying out various infrastructure projects in their constituencies. The Urban Development department of the Delhi government is the nodal agency for release of the funds.

"Efforts may be made to obtain the expenditure statement from the agencies for the period mentioned above (2008-09 to 2010-11) and even earlier period also so that the amount of unspent balance could be ascertained under intimation to audit," the draft audit said.