2 DJB officials booked for embezzling ₹20 cr

NEW DELHI: The anti-corruption branch (ACB) on Saturday filed an FIR against unidentified individuals in connection with the alleged embezzlement of around ₹20 crore from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), officials aware of the development said.

The ACB said they would probe the role of DJB officials and other private individuals in the alleged fraud, which happened between 2012 and 2019.

Explaining the case details, ACB officials said DJB in June 2012 appointed the Corporation Bank to collect water bills on its behalf for a period of three years. The bank further engaged a private agency to set up kiosks and collect bills from different locations in the city.

The contract was renewed periodically till October 2019, when the fraud was detected.

The ACB said the private agency was mandated to deposit the money directly into the DJB’S bank account, but instead, the money was transferred to a private account, which was in violation of the contract.

In September, Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena directed chief secretary Naresh Kumar to inquire into the matter and file an FIR. The vigilance department of DJB, too, said a preliminary probe has established that funds were embezzled.

DJB did not issue a statment on Saturday, but on September 23, when the LG ordered the probe, DJB vice-chairman Saurabh Bharadwaj said: “We welcome all such investigations.”