AAP: Let CBI probe paid parking scam

Chandigarh: Hitting out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mayor Anoop Gupta for rampant corruption in the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has sought CBI inquiry into the multi-crore parking scam.
Addressing a conference here, AAP Punjab state chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang along with senior party leader Pardeep Chabra, Chandigarh MC leader of opposition Damanpreet Singh and other AAP councillors lashed out at Chandigarh administrator Banwarilal Purohit and BJP leaders for ignoring the irregularities and corruption in the BJP-ruled Chandigarh MC.
Accusing Purohit of dancing to the tunes of the BJP, Kang asked why he had turned a blind eye towards rampant corruption in the MC and patronizing venal BJP leaders in Chandigarh while he would vehemently interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the Punjab government to hinder the progress of the state? Raising questions over the Chandigarh MC and the police for not disclosing the arrest of Sanjay Sharma, director, Pashchatya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, for three days in connection with submitting fake bank guarantees of Rs 1.65 crore for running 57 paid parking lots in the city, Pardeep Chabra said there was something fishy in the case and the BJP was trying to save their leaders and officials involved in this scam.
He added that it was not the first case of corruption, but earlier also a firm M/s Arya toll and Selvel Company had cheated the MC of several millions in collusion with the MC officials, but no action was taken against them as well.
Leader of opposition in Chandigarh MC Damanpreet Singh said the AAP had also submitted a memorandum before Chandigarh mayor Anoop Gupta to seek a special house session for a thorough discussion on the issue of corruption.
He added that the Chandigarh MC was mired in corruption and fraud committed by the paid parking contractor, audit of water meter readers claiming giving bribes to SDE and JE, fake issuance of employment letters, irregularities by Lions Company and complaints against the outsourcing contractors. The government should initiate action against erring officials at once.
He also demanded that at least one house meeting with full agenda items be held every month as per the Act and a meeting was required to be called in the month of March, without fail.