Lokpal Bench reveals Sheila-era graft in flyover land deal

New Delhi

A Lokpal Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar has confirmed corruption during the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government in Delhi, exposing irregularities in land acquisition compensation for the Rani Jhansi flyover project between 2009-11. The Bench stated that a nexus of government officials and private individuals colluded with criminal intent.

The Lokpal's order followed a complaint against Delhi government Revenue Department officials and North Delhi Municipal Corporation members. A 2021 CVC report found that Northern Cold Storage and Refrigeration Ltd received Rs 9.9 crore for 1,183 sq meters of land, despite owning only 698 sq meters. A 2023 Delhi government committee flagged irregularities in Rs 25.67 crore compensation to Methodist Episcopal Church in South Asia (MECISA) and Rs 3.45 crore to private individual Abhishek Gupta, whose name was missing from the compensation list.

Following these findings, the Ministry of Home Affairs suspended land acquisition collector Raj Kumar in 2023. The Lokpal Bench acknowledged that the illegal land acquisition misused government funds, granting undue benefits to private individuals. However, it refused to order action against officials, citing the seven-year limitation period from the complaint's filing in August 2020.

Despite dismissing the case, the Bench allowed authorities to pursue appropriate action, including criminal proceedings, against the responsible officials. The flyover, initially approved in 2007 for Rs 177.72 crore, was completed in 2018 at a cost of Rs 725 crore.