New Delhi, July 29: Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena on Friday directed Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to conduct a probe into the alleged corruption in Transport Department.

"Lt. Governor VK Saxena has directed the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to conduct a probe into the corruption and collusion of Transport Department officials with the auto financers or unauthorised dealers and touts at the Burari Transport Authority", a source from LG office told IANS. Delhi: BSF Cook-Turned-Fraudster Held for Duping People of Over Rs 100 Crore in Three Years

The direction comes in wake of the Delhi High Court's order on a criminal writ petition filed by several auto rickshaw unions of the National Capital who alleged large scale corruption in the RTO and the consequent harassment to the auto rickshaw drivers.

The LG has directed to complete the investigation and submit a comprehensive report within one month. As per the source, the Directorate of Vigilance examined the matter and observed that the "petitioners have levelled serious allegations of large scale corruption in the RTO as well as misdeeds that are happening impacting the auto drivers".

In its report, the Directorate of Vigilance observed that the said complaint was "serious" in nature and hence, proposed to refer the same to the ACB, which was further endorsed by the Chief Secretary, the source said.

It added further that the Vigilance Directorate noted that the Transport Department on 08.08.2012 made it a condition precedent that the financers of auto rickshaws will be non-financial banking companies (NBFS) but several proprietorship firms were financing the purchase of TSRs and thereafter, filing court cases to recover the auto rickshaws for default of loan payments.

The auto drivers had complained that the TSR permits were illegally being transferred, on default of payment of loan, in cahoots with the Motor Licensing Officer (MLO) and RTO officials.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2022 07:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).