Former transport commissioners RK Verma and Chandra Mohan were questioned on Tuesday in what is being called the multi-crore CNG fitness scam. The two were questioned by the Justice Mudgal committee constituted by the Lt-Governor last year to probe the case. Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Branch had sought permission from the Delhi government to prosecute officials named in the scam involving tenders worth crores to ESP India Pvt Ltd, a company created after the ESP USA Inc was allotted the original tender. It is alleged that officials authorised award of the contract to a company not eligible for the work. As per the contract, work was to be given to a company which is either the supplier or the manufacturer. But in this case, work was given to ESP India Pvt Ltd which was neither a supplier nor manufacturer. The Delhi government had appointed ESP USA Inc as a consultant for the CNG fitness contract - the company was both the supplier and the manufacturer. But it is alleged that an employee of ESP USA Inc and officials in the Delhi government created a new company ESP India Pvt Ltd after which the company was officially given the tender. Another allegation is that a supplementary tender was awarded to ESP India for Loaded Mode Emission test. Investigations, however, revealed that no such test was ever conducted and, instead, the company charged Rs 1,600 for this test from each CNG bus operator. For this test, eight lanes were required. It is alleged that ESP India was given installation work for the lanes without any tender process.
