Tanker scam: ACB examines Dikshit, gives her questionnaire

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) Former Delhi Chief Minister SheilaDikshit was today "examined" by the Anti-Corruption Branch(ACB) in connection with her alleged involvement in themulti-crore rupees tanker scam besides being handed over a setof 18 written questions which she has to reply to within thenext few days. A team of ACB officials visited DikshitÂ’s residence inNizamuddin area and examined her for around 15 minutes withregard to procurement of 385 water tankers by the Delhi JalBoard in 2012 when she as the Delhi Chief Minister headed thebody. A top ACB official said the agency is planning to questionChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Water Resources MinisterKapil Mishra who had formed a fact finding committee toinvestigate the alleged scam last year based on whose reportthe probe agency had started its investigation. Delhi BJP hadaccused Kejriwal and Mishra of delay in sending the report ofthe fact-finding committee to ACB. "A team of officials also examined her apart from handingher the questionnaire," ACB Chief Mukesh Meena said. There areallegations that the government lost revenue in excess of Rs400 crore due to alleged financial bungling in procurement ofthe tankers. An ACB official probing the case said Dikshit hasbeen asked to reply to 18 written questions within the nexttwo-three days. Dikshit, who has been anointed CongressÂ’ chief ministerialnominee for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls slated for early nextyear, questioned the timing of the probe and said she conveyedto the ACB that she cannot reply to questions immediately."I told the investigators that I cannot answer any one of them(questions) soon as decisions were taken about four years ago.I do not remember all the details. They said I can take timeto reply to the questions," she told PTI. Rejecting the allegations, Dikshit said all decisionsregarding procurement of the tankers were taken by a boardcomprising a number of top bureaucrats, DJB board members,officials of the civic bodies and representative of oppositionBJP. She also criticised the AAP government for making"baseless allegations". The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government had inJune last year constituted a fact-finding committee to go intoalleged irregularities in procuring some 385 stainless steelwater tankers by the DJB. The Delhi government in June thisyear sent a report of the fact-finding committee to LtGovernor Najeeb Jung following which an FIR was registered incase. More PTI SLB/VIT/GJS MPB SKSK