CBI probe demanded on power sector privatisation issue

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Delhi Government, the private power distribution companies and others on a petition by an NGO seeking CBI probe for alleged favouritism by the Sheila Dikshit government and loss of more than Rs 2600 crore to the public exchequer.

A division bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain asked the respondents to file their replies to the allegations by May 2.

The respondents are Delhi Government, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, Delhi Power Company Ltd, Delhi Transco, BSES Rajdhani Power, BSES Yamuna Power, North Delhi Power and CBI.

The petition alleged that the state government had allegedly advanced a loan upto Rs 2,600 crore to the distribution companies (Discoms) in the initial period at an interest rate, which is half percent higher than charged on the loans advanced to its predecessor Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) flouting the rules.

The state government also released unauthorisedly Rs 443 crore to the pension trust, alleged the petition.

The government had unduly favoured the discoms, charged the petition filed by Counsel B B Gupta and Laliet Kumar appearing for Jan Sehyog Manch.

The Manch has demanded a CBI probe to the matter to fix the liability of the authorities which had led to a loss of such a huge amount to the public exchequer.

The state government should also be directed to produce the documents relating to the restructuring of the DVB and privatisation of the electricity supply and distribution in the Capital, prayed the NGO in its petition.

UNI PAT MIR KP1948