HC asks MCD for report on salary scam

The MCD has been asked by the Delhi high court to explain what action it has taken against its officials, involved in fraudulent withdrawal of salaries on behalf of hundreds of non-existent 'ghost' employees.

The MCD has been asked by the Delhi high court to explain what action it has taken against its officials, involved in fraudulent withdrawal of salaries on behalf of hundreds of non-existent 'ghost' employees.

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Seeking the action taken report (ATR) from Municipal Corporation of Delhi's within two weeks, a division bench of acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and justice Siddharth Mridul also asked the civic body to name in its report the officers who had 'recruited' the ghost employees and disbursed salaries to them.

"You have admitted that salaries were drawn in the name of non-existing employees. Without the connivance of your officers, such a thing could not have happened. What action has been taken against those officers who are responsible?" the bench asked while hearing a plea for a probe into the entire episode and prosecution of guilty officials.

The court had earlier asked the police to lodge an FIR against erring officials, after Delhi government's standing counsel Najmi Waziri informed it that at least 1,588 'ghost' employees, in whose names salaries had been withdrawn, were ‘untraceable’.