New Delhi: In a setback to Chief Minister
Sheila Dikshit, Delhi Lokayukt today rejected her objections
relating to a complaint accusing her of misusing public funds
to gain "political mileage" during last year`s assembly polls.
Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin, after hearing arguments
by both sides, rejected contention by Dikshit`s lawyer that
the complaint has no merit and that the case is related to
election and so the Lokayukta has no authority to carry on
with it.
BJP leader Vijendra Gupta had filed an application with
the Lokayukta alleging that Dikshit had splurged public and
government fund for her advertisement campaigns to win the
elections last year.
"There is no challenge to the election. Hence, the
submission that remedy under any other statute except the
Representation of People`s Act 1951 was barred is wholly
misconceived," the Lokayukta said in his order.
Satisfied with the ruling, H S Phoolka, lawyer of Gupta,
said now the "normal inquiry will proceed into the
allegations."
Gupta had alleged that the "expenses on advertisement
from 2004-07 remained in the range of Rs 4 crore per year."
PTI
