CBI lens on DUSIB over alleged irregularities in shelters ops in 2023

CBI probes irregularities in Delhi night shelters, alleging bogus employees siphoned funds. FIR names several individuals, including society president.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case into the alleged irregularities in the operation and management of night shelters in the national capital run by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) in 2023.

Multiple individuals, CBI said, were engaged in other independent professions or businesses or employed elsewhere, “were falsely shown as staff in night shelters and were paid salaries. (Representative photo)

According to CBI, a preliminary enquiry in the matter has revealed that the shelter management authority (SMA), which was responsible for deploying manpower —supervisors, caretakers (for three shifts), sweepers and women security guards (for women shelters) and relievers for all staff — engaged bogus employees who never worked at shelters, manipulated their attendance and credit salaries in their accounts.

In the First Information Report dated April 27, CBI named Suhail Khan, president of Sofia Educational and Welfare Society, the SMA awarded the work for running the night shelters; two private individuals, Amir and Sonu Kushwaha; and unknown public servants. The FIR was made public recently.

The irregularities were being examined by the federal agency since May last year as part of a preliminary enquiry (PE).

[need comments from AAP, DUSIB and Sofia educational and welfare society]

“Enquiry revealed that certain individuals were shown as employees (caretakers/sweepers) in various night shelters and their enrolment was processed in the records, including issuance of ESIC benefits. It was found that fixed monthly amounts were being credited to their bank accounts, which were subsequently withdrawn and returned in cash to persons managing the said society. These individuals had never actually worked in any night shelter, indicating that their identities were used only for the purpose of siphoning off government funds,” said the FIR.

Multiple individuals, CBI said, were engaged in other independent professions or businesses or employed elsewhere, “were falsely shown as staff in night shelters and were paid salaries through bank accounts for the relevant period”.

“Verification of their professional engagements and mobile location data established that they were present at their actual workplaces or residences and not at any night shelter during the period for which attendance and salary were shown,” the FIR added.

CBI alleged that in the attendance records, the names of bogus employees were inserted at the office level after submission.

“Such individuals were never seen working at the night shelters by other staff or residents. The existence of these bogus employees was also corroborated by multiple employees and residents of the night shelters, thereby confirming large-scale falsification of records and fraudulent disbursement of salaries,” it added.

On DUSIB’s role, CBI has said that designated officials of the Delhi government body were supposed to conduct inspections as per the standard operating procedures. “However, no reports were submitted regarding the absence of bogus employees, despite their jurisdiction over the concerned shelters”.

CBI said it was a “well-planned conspiracy involving fraudulent documentation, misappropriation of government funds and active connivance of individuals and public servants”.