Anti-graft body quizzes Sheila Dikshit in Rs 400-crore tanker scam

NEW DELHI: A four-member Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team of the Delhi government visited former chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s residence on Sunday to quiz her

NEW DELHI: A four-member Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team of the Delhi government visited former chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s residence on Sunday to quiz her on her alleged role in the Rs 400-crore water tanker scam.

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The anti-graft unit, which reports to the Delhi lieutenant governor, was at her residence for over two hours. The team asked her questions from the probe report prepared by an AAP-government appointed panel. The team also gave her a questionnaire with 18 questions and sought replies.

While the Congress veteran questioned the timings of the probe, Delhi water minister, Kapil Mishra, objected to the “courtesy” extended to Dikshit.

“I was the complainant in the case, but was interrogated at the ACB office in a closed room for four hours,” Mishra said, claiming that the ACB was under pressure to save the former Delhi CM.

“I was cross-questioned, interrogated, and made to hand over a signed statement there and then. The officers stayed at Dikshit’s house for 20 minutes, had tea and handed her a list of 20 questions that she can answer at her convenience. There are four corruption cases against her but they are scared. It seems like Dikshit is Modi ji’s aunt,” the water minister said.

Dikshit is the Congress chief ministerial nominee for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled for next year.

She rejected allegations of corruption and sought time to reply. “I told the investigators 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 time to reply to the questions,” she said.

ACB chief Mukesh Meena confirmed that Dikshit was examined. “We are looking at all possible aspects of the case. The drill was just a part of the investigation,” he said.

Further questioning, police said, will happen once Dikshit answers all the queries in the questionnaire. She might be examined again, sources said.

AAP TRYING TO SAVE DIKSHIT: GUPTA

BJP leader Vijender Gupta on Sunday alleged the AAP government was trying to “save” former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit in connection with the multi-crore tanker scam as they have not “revealed” the total cost of the scam and have rather “manipulated their stance on the entire issue”.