Misuse of funds: Swati Maliwal targets Barkha Shukla in complaint

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal, on Friday lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Branch against the former chairperson of the commission, Barkha Shukla Singh, alleging “financial bungling”. She has also accused former Delhi minister and ex-DCW chief Kiran Walia of misappropriation of funds, alleging that this happened with the knowledge of the then chief minister, Sheila Dikshit.Maliwal demanded registration of an FIR in the matter immediately.
“We have received a complaint and an investigating officer has been assigned to look into it,” said ACB chief Mukesh Kumar Meena. “A probe will be conducted and action taken as per merits of the case.”
The ACB had on Tuesday registered an FIR against Maliwal for alleged irregularities in recruitments in the commission. Barkha Singh is the complainant in that case. Maliwal had alleged on Thursday that the FIR against her was aimed at preventing her from unravelling the truth of those behind the illegal flesh trade on GB Road. She had alleged the hand of one central minister and a senior Delhi politician associated with a prominent political party in the running of the brothels but had confessed that she was still investigating the matter.
On Friday, Maliwal hit back by filing a complaint of “corruption and financial frauds in DCW” during the Congress regime. “The commission while perusing the files of the previous commission has discovered instances of gross financial irregularities and high misappropriation of government funds done by previous chairpersons, namely Barkha Shukla Singh and Kiran Walia, in some instances prima facie being carried out under directions of the then Delhi chief minister, Sheila Dikshit,” said Maliwal in the complaint. The period in question is 2007 to 2015. While the Congress government’s tenure ended in December 2013, Barkha Singh’s tenure ended last year after AAP came to power.
The allegations in the complaint include financial fraud of over Rs 50 lakh in the name of Nirbhaya and a silent march for her on January 2, 2013; appointment of a sitting MLA as DCW chief, providing opportunities for misuse of office; diversion of funds for political gains and personal glorification; paid interviews; and irregularities in celebration of International Women's Day between 2007 and 2010.
In her complaint, Maliwal states: “A two-hour march was conducted by DCW to protest against violence against women in the aftermath of the heinous Nirbhaya gangrape...No quotations, no work order, no tender were done and the work was awarded to firms on the basis of direct recommendation from then CM Sheila Dikshit. A total of Rs 12.5 lakh was paid to one firm only for printing signages, placards and banners while Rs 32 lakh was paid to a company recommended by the then CM for advertising without any work order. The audit report of this expenditure highlighted this huge fraud in very strong words stating that the commission was forced to make payments for the event and that by organising such an event, the commission violated its mandate under the statute.”
It is further stated in the complaint that “a staggering Rs 2.9 lakh was spent just to ferry crowds to the event in a manner which is befitting only of political parties and not a statutory body...The audit of the year 2012-13 strongly noted this expenditure of Rs 50,34,878 as wasteful expenditure not mandated by the DCW Act, noting the absence of codal formalities as a serious illegality.” Some documents have been attached.
It has also been alleged that the commission’s funds were diverted for political gains by Barkha Singh. “Advertisements were put up in R K Puram assembly where Barkha Singh was then sitting MLA from the commission’s funds.”
“While holding the post of chairperson, her (Shukla's ) conduct amounted to misusing of public office with aim to benefit certain individuals. Every year, a majority of the budget of the commission was spent only on organising such functions and giving out advertisements which have been criticised by audit reports time and again,” the complaint emphasises with Maliwal and the three members of her commission demanding an immediate FIR against those named in the complaint.