Delhi: 932 auto permits scrapped, matter referred to vigilance department
New Delhi, Dec 26: The Delhi government on Saturday suspended three transport department officials over alleged corruption in issuing fresh Letters Of Intents (LOIs) for three-wheelers. BJP's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay demanded state Transport Minister Gopal Rai's resignation over the alleged auto-rickshaw permit scam. The three officials -- Deputy Commissioner (auto-rickshaw unit) Roy Biswas, inspector Manish Puri, and Anil Yadav, a clerk -- were placed under suspension with immediate effect after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday morning. Transport Minister Gopal Rai in a statement said he received some complaints on Wednesday over irregularities in issuance of LOIs to auto drivers at the transport department's Burari authority. "I held a meeting with the joint commissioner (transport) and other senior officers on the next day (Thursday), and issued directions to enquire into the matter," Rai said. Kejriwal received an SMS from some auto-rickshaw drivers regarding certain irregularities in distribution of LoIs on Friday evening. The chief minister convened a meeting with his cabinet ministers and senior government officials on Saturday, leading to suspension of the three officials.
