BJP accuses Delhi transport department of multi-crore panic button scam

The BJP on Tuesday (August 2) accused the Delhi transport department of being involved in a scam of crores of rupees in the name of panic buttons in buses in the national capital.

Meanwhile, the AAP dispensation said that they were not aware of any formal audit being conducted by the ACB and claimed that all safety measures in their buses were functioning properly.

After media reports appeared of the Anti-Corruption Bureau carrying out an audit of panic buttons, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that the Delhi transport department is involved in a scam of crores of rupees in the name of panic buttons.

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that a delegation led by Sachdeva would meet the lieutenant governor and submit a memorandum regarding this “multi-crore panic button scam”.

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He demanded that transport minister Kailash Gahlot resign from his post taking moral responsibility till the investigation is going on.

No formal audit by ACB

Meanwhile, the Delhi government said it is “not aware of any formal audit being carried out by the ACB, including whether appropriate technical protocols were being followed while conducting the audit or if the persons carrying the audit were technically qualified to do so”.

“Further, no reactions or inputs from Delhi government officials were sought regarding any findings of the audit, which they are bound to do before submitting any report to higher authorities,” it said.

The statement also stressed that safety and security of the passengers has always been the utmost priority for the Delhi government.

“All the necessary security measures are in place and are functioning effectively. The Command-and-Control Centre at Kashmere Gate has played an important role in ensuring safety of all passengers especially women travelling in the DTC and Cluster buses,” it said.

All Delhi buses are equipped with IP-based CCTV surveillance cameras, panic buttons, and GPS systems. The live feed of the CCTV inside the bus is regularly being watched at the control centres and appropriate action taken whenever needed, it stressed.

(With inputs from agencies)