Delhi Lokayukta issues notice to MLA on graft charges

Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin has issued a notice to a BJP MLA in connection with allegations of amassing properties disproportionate to his known source of income.

The Lokayukta had initiated the inquiry against Rohini MLA Jai Bhagwan Aggarwal based on a complaint filed by a petitioner who wanted to keep his identity secret.

Following a preliminary probe, the Lokayukta had issued a notice to Aggarwal and asked him to file his reply. The Lokayukta said communication from the whistleblower gave specific details and information regarding the properties of the respondent (Aggarwal) and based on the information, a preliminary inquiry was conducted to ascertain whether a case for initiation of inquiry was made out or not.

“It is on the basis of the information gathered by spot inquiries by statutory authorities that the properties or assets mentioned in the notice were stated to be either owned by the MLA or his family members,” the Lokayukta said in an order on Friday.

After carrying out the preliminary probe, the lokayukta issued the notice to the MLA seeking his reply. The MLA demanded disclosure of the identity of the petitioner to effectively reply to the allegations but the Lokayukta refused to oblige and instead decided to provide all other relevant details to him.