New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit
today refused to be drawn into the controversy over Delhi
Lokayukta's summons to one of her ministers over allegations
of trying to protect a leading resort in a tax evasion case,
saying the basis of such action will have to be seen.
"We will have to see on what basis they (Lokayukta) have
issued summons," Dikshit told PTI when asked to comment on
Lokayukta Justice M M Sarin summoning Revenue Minister
Rajkumar Chauhan.
There are allegations that Chauhan tried to influence a
tax survey of the Tivoli Garden Resort in south Delhi.
Lokayukta had taken suo motu action on media reports that
VAT Commissioner Jalaj Srivastava had written to Dikshit that
"a certain minister had asked him to recall enforcement team
from the survey."
Srivastava had later named Chauhan as the Delhi minister
who had called him to intervene during the survey.
When asked to comment, Dikshit said, "The Minister has to
say something, the officer has to say something. Let it
unfold, how can I give judgement?"
She also parried a question on whether the allegations by
a senior officer were a matter of concern for her.
The Lokayukta has summoned the Revenue Minister to
present his case on August 16.
Shrivastava has also named Lok Sabha MP Raj Babbar, who
allegedly made a call the same day, and ex-councillor Ramesh
Dutta, who visited him a few days after the survey was
conducted at the premises of the Chhattarpur banquet hall.
-PTI
First Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 22:32