CWG case: Trial begins, MCD commissioner deposes

The trial in the CWG street lightning scam begin today with MCD Commissioner K S Mehra telling a Delhi court that he was the incharge of the project but came to know of the alleged irregularities only when CBI approached him in the matter.

The trial in the CWG street lightning scam begin today with MCD Commissioner K S Mehra telling a Delhi court that he was the incharge of the project but came to know of the alleged irregularities only when CBI approached him in the matter.

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Deposing as a prosecution witness before the court of Special CBI Judge Pradeep Chaddah, Mehra said he was the "incharge of programme of upgradation of street lights but failed to recollect details of the same.

He also said "it is correct that I was not aware of any irregularity and illegality in awarding the tender in the matter till the time CBI approached me."

Mehra said he does not remember into how many phases was the job of upgradation divided into and also who had prepared the action plan and the Expression of Interest for the project.

"I do not remember as to who had prepared Expression of Interest (EoI). I do not remember as to how many companies had participated in EoI. It must be there in record," Mehra said.

He also failed to recollect which company was awarded the contract and if any intensive examination of the project was ever conducted.

On whether any objections were raised with reagrd to the manipulations in the tender of the accused firm Sweska Powertech Ltd, which was allegedly illegally awarded the street lightning works, Mehra said "I do not remember if the Chief Accountant-cum-Financial Advisor had raised any objection regarding cutting, overwriting, manipulaton or any other objection in the tender document of M/s Sweska Powertech Pvt Ltd.