CVO seeks MC chiefs’ comment

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7

The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), UT, has written to the MC Commissioner to give his comments on the matter pertaining to a purported audio recording between an officer on special duty (OSD) and a Selvel official. In the audio clip, the Selvel official is allegedly being advised on ways, including offering bribe to senior MC officials, to escape a Rs 26-crore penalty imposed on the firm by the civic body.

Following a complaint in this matter, the Central Vigilance Commission had referred the matter to the CVO, UT.

Referring to the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer Resolution, the complainant desired that his name should not be disclosed. However, MC officials disclosed his name and kept asking him to come on record if he wants to proceed with the complaint. Also, MC officials though shifted low-rung officials in the department of OSD Surender Sharma, no action was taken against Sharma.

“At the MC’s end no action was taken earlier. Now, this complaint has again been forwarded to the civic body. There is not going to be any result again,” said an administration official.

In the recording, seemingly done inside the OSD’s office, Sharma is purportedly heard saying that if MC Commissioner KK Yadav is with Selvel official, then the entire penalty can be waived.

The company is required to pay arrears and penalty amounting to Rs 26 crore on account of unpaid fee for advertisements displayed on toilets set up by it.

Similar corruption-related audio clips, involving councillors, had come to light earlier also, but no action was initiated against them.