New Delhi: Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi raised concerns on Saturday over an alleged ₹3,237 crore scam within the Delhi Jal Board under the AAP government, citing accounting irregularities since 2017. In response, the AAP accused the BJP of attempting to obstruct Delhi's progress with baseless claims.

The AAP dismissed the accusations, asserting that the BJP's attempt to make "fabricated insinuations" does not align with a Union minister targeting an "honest" government dedicated to its citizens. Meenakshi Lekhi, in a joint press conference with BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, claimed that tenders were avoided for 12,000 work orders totaling ₹600 crore by keeping each order's value below ₹5 lakh.

Sachdeva suggested that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should refer the alleged scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigation. Failing this, the BJP would appeal to the Lt Governor to initiate the inquiry, Sachdeva added.

Lekhi alleged that financial irregularities, adjustments, and re-adjustments, along with missing fixed deposits, constituted a "scam of ₹3,237 crore under various heads." She pointed out discrepancies in the Delhi Jal Board's financial statement and the conciliation statement of banks.

The AAP countered, asserting that the BJP, through the GNCTD Amendment Act, has hindered officers from working for the people of Delhi over the past six months. They accused the finance department of delaying funds to the Delhi Jal Board, impeding Delhi's development. The AAP claimed that the BJP, aiming to halt progress, was resorting to false allegations and threatening officers with CBI inquiries.

The Delhi government, committed to the city's progress, continued its efforts through the Delhi Jal Board to provide water and sewer facilities, according to the AAP. Despite the BJP's attempts, the AAP pledged that the Kejriwal government would persist in working for the people of Delhi.

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