Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijender Gupta has filed a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit before a special court in New Delhi seeking direction to police to register a first information report against her for allegedly misusing government funds to the tune of Rs 22.56 crore in an advertisement campaign ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls.
In his complaint filed before special judge Narottam Kaushal, Gupta sought registration of FIR against Dikshit and others for criminal breach of trust (section 409 of the Indian Penal Code), criminal misappropriation of public funds and criminal misconduct under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
The complaint said in 2007-08, Dikshit was the chief Minister of Delhi and also minister in-charge of information and publicity. "It was an election year. A number of government
advertisements were published in the form of publications of advertisement in newspaper, large number of hoardings showing pictures of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Sheila Dikshit all over Delhi Metro, bus shelters and also in form of radio jingles, TV spots etc by misusing the government machinery and public funds and burdened the state exchequer in carrying out campaign of Congress party for her own political gains," it said.
The matter has now been fixed for July 9. The complaint filed through advocates Anil Soni and Ajay Digpaul also informed the court that a circular dated May 15, 2007 was issued by the then director (information and publicity) as per which all advertisements were to be approved by Dikshit.
"In aforesaid election year advertisement were issued by directorate of information and publicity on direction of accused with improper and selfish motive to obtain gain or favour for herself and Congress Party squandering public funds to gain advantage for Chief Minister and her party in elections.
"Even the number of advertisements issued by government increased manifold (fivefold) during election year. Approximately Rs 22.56 crore of public funds were spend by the accused for purely personal purposes and converted to her use," Gupta has said in his complaint.
The BJP leader also said he had filed a complaint before Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin who had on May 22 indicted Dikshit for allegedly misusing government funds for carrying out an advertisement campaign with a 'political purpose' ahead of the last assembly polls.
He said the Lokayukta had also recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to caution Dikshit for the alleged misuse of public funds and to 'advise' her to reimburse either herself or through her party a sum of Rs 11 crore as half the cost of the advertisements in 2008 or any amount the President finds adequate.
Gupta has also said in the complaint that "accused (Dikshit) being the chief minister, 'public functionary' is custodian of public trust. The accused is trustee of state exchequer and has to ensure that same is spent in public interest only and is accountable to the public for use of public funds. The accused caused loss to public exchequer by misusing her position."
