Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Oct 14 (IANS) Leaders of the Congress party in this union territory Wednesday demanded a criminal case be filed against Chandigarh Administrator S.F. Rodrigues and other officials for alleged corrupt practices.
This demand has come after the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) of India ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allotment of two mega-projects - film city and amusement-cum-theme park.

These projects were approved by the Chandigarh administration a few years back but they have not been completed yet. Rodrigues and local Congress leaders always remained at loggerheads over these projects.

“Now the CVC has also ordered a CBI probe into these corrupt projects. The union home ministry is aware about the malpractices going on in these projects, so now we demand that apart from a CBI inquiry, an FIR should be immediately registered against all culprits,” Subhash Chawla, Congress leader and former mayor of Chandigarh, told reporters here Wednesday.

He added: “As only few weeks are left before the end of the tenure of UT administrator, the central government should keep a strict vigil on him. We have got information from our sources that he is trying to make changes in the files to escape from the CBI’s wrath.”

Chandigarh mayor Kamlesh was also present during the press conference here Wednesday.

“It is just the beginning and we need to wait and watch. All mega projects initiated by the administrator are bundles of scandals and gradually things will become clear before everyone,” Chawla said.

Following allegations from various quarters, the CVC launched an inquiry into these contentious projects in December last year. In March 2009, the CVC also called senior officials of the administration to New Delhi for questioning.