CBI arrests 6 Delhi transport officials in corruption crackdown
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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested six Delhi Transport Department officials on corruption and bribery charges in a major post-Assembly election crackdown. The arrests were made on Wednesday after multiple complaints alleged widespread corruption in the department.
Sources revealed that the CBI conducted a thorough surveillance operation to verify these claims before launching its action. During the investigation, authorities found prima facie evidence indicating corruption at various levels, leading to the arrests.
The Delhi Transport Department has a long administrative history. In May 1948, the Government of India's Ministry of Transport took over the city's bus services, forming the Delhi Transport Service after finding the existing services run by Gwalior and Northern India Transport Company Ltd. inadequate. In 1950, the Delhi Road Transport Authority was established under the Road Transport Corporation Act, later becoming part of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 1958. However, a Planning Commission Working Group identified inefficiencies and revenue losses, prompting the central government to take over management in 1971 through the Delhi Road Transport Laws (Amendment) Act. As a result, the Delhi Transport Undertaking (DTU), previously run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, ceased operations, and the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was formally established. Initially under the administrative control of the central government, DTC was handed over to the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi on August 5, 1996.
The CBI’s latest action is the first major move by the investigative agency following the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) electoral defeat, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) make a historic comeback in Delhi after 27 years. The BJP secured 48 out of 70 Assembly seats, reducing AAP to 22, while the Congress failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive election.
Following the poll results, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena issued an official notification announcing the dissolution of the seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, effective February 8. The political shift marks the end of a decade-long AAP rule. Outgoing Chief Minister Atishi, who retained her Kalkaji seat by defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri with a margin of 3,521 votes, submitted her resignation to the L-G on February 9.
With IANS inputs