Embezzlement Scandal Rocks Dehradun Municipal Corporation: Rs 60 Crores Misused by Councilors, RTI Reveals

A recent revelation through a Right to Information (RTI) inquiry has brought to light a major financial scandal within the Dehradun Municipal Corporation in Uttarakhand. Councillors, allegedly in collusion with officers, are accused of misappropriating funds exceeding Rs 60 crores under the guise of Mohalla Sanitation Committees. The disclosure was made by RTI activist and advocate Vikesh Negi, shedding light on irregularities and prompting calls for a high-level investigation.

Advocate Vikesh Negi obtained the Mohalla Sanitation Committee-2019 list through RTI, revealing that 1021 employees had been deployed by councillors across all 100 wards. These employees, receiving Rs 500 per day, were purportedly paid through the councillors, raising suspicions about the authenticity of their names and addresses. Many irregularities were noted, including addresses not being recorded and doubts surrounding the identities of the personnel.

Councilors, in what appears to be a systematic deployment, assigned a minimum of five employees to each ward, with some wards hosting up to 20 employees. Additionally, sanitation workers, including individuals with common names like Shubham, were appointed without clear verification of their whereabouts. Advocate Negi alleges that each “environment friend” receives Rs 500 per day, funneling through the councilor’s account.

The list further revealed the deployment of workers from distant locations such as Bijnor, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh) in the teams of several councilors. Physical verification, conducted on the orders of Municipal Corporation Administrator Sonika, raised concerns as many of these employees were reportedly missing.

Advocate Vikesh Negi questioned the financial permission granted to this arrangement, emphasizing that salaries should adhere to established rules, paid directly to employees rather than funneled through councilors. He estimated that, on average, a councilor received Rs 1 lakh every month, accumulating to approximately Rs 60 crores over the last five years in the name of Mohalla Improvement Committees.

The unfolding scandal has cast doubt on the corporation’s working practices, leading to calls for a thorough investigation at a high level. Advocates are urging not only financial recovery but also legal action against the implicated councilors for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities.