Lokayukta asks Lt Guv to caution councillor over sting op

Delhi Lokayukta has recommended to Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna to caution a Municipal Corporation of Delhi councillor for allegedly “entertaining requests” to allow unauthorised construction, although it did not find any evidence of seeking gratification by him.

Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin, in an order, said although councillor Ajit Singh Tokas “rejected all offers of gratification” to alleged requests for allowing unauthorised construction in a sting operation, his conduct indicated “disturbing tendency towards breach of public duty”.

The Lokayukta had decided to initiate the probe in December last year after a news channel telecast a sting operation purportedly showing that money was demanded for allowing illegal construction.

“Notwithstanding the councillor’s regret and the fact that it was a sting operation, there being no real project or exchange or promise of consideration for the councillor himself, his conduct indicates a disturbing tendency towards breach of public duty, against which the councillor needs to be cautioned and advised,” the Lokayukta said.

The Lokayukta examined the footage as well as original recordings of the sting operation provided by a Hindi news channel. 

The Lokayukta had also recorded statements of the reporters who had carried out the sting operation.

Sarin, in his order issued on Monday, has recommeded to the Lt Governor to issue an advisory to the councillor “cautioning him not to entertain any requests for unauthorised constructions or hold out any assurance of help, reminding him of his public duty to stop and act against unauthorised construction.”