Probe on against 16 transport dept officials: CBI to court

New Delhi, March 6: Departmental enquiry has been initiated against 16 Delhi transport officials for failing to take action against some motor driving training schools for allegedly violating provisions of Motor Vehicles Act on its recommendation, the CBI has told a court here.

The CBI made the submission after completing preliminary enquiry on the direction of Delhi High Court which had asked it to probe if there was any nexus between transport officials and motor driving schools for illegal gratification and bribe.

The agency, however, filed a closure report in the case saying there was no substantial evidence on the alleged nexus but inquiry has been initiated against the 16 officials for "dereliction of duty" in granting licences to driving schools.

It said the probe disclosed that 16 officials considered the renewal of applications of 10 driving schools that were run by their relatives even after expiry of due date and also overlooked driving instructors' qualifications and experience which were below the prescribed standard.

The agency told special CBI judge Vinod Kumar the officials should have taken action against the erring driving schools by suspending or cancelling their licences or imposing penalty but since no such action was taken, it had recommended to the Delhi government to conduct inquiry against the 16 erring officials.

It said that the Delhi government's Transport Department has already initiated action on the recommendation made by CBI.

The court took note of CBI's submission, and accepted the closure report saying there was no sufficient material to take cognisance of the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy and those under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. "I have perused the documents filed along with closure report. Perusal of the same shows that departmental action has been recommended by CBI against some officials for commission/ omissions in grant/renewal of licenses," the judge noted.

"I am of the opinion that material is not sufficient to take cognisance of the offence (criminal conspiracy and those under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act)," the judge said while accepting the closure report.

PTI