Delhi top cop orders vigilance probe into 'fund diversion'

NEW DELHI: Police commissioner Sanjay Arora is learnt to have ordered a vigilance inquiry into alleged diversion of funds of about Rs 350 crores. The move came after a special CP and other officials of his unit flagged the alleged irregularities and demanded an explanation from senior cops, sources said.
A memo has been issued in this regard by Lalatendu Mohanti, special commissioner (finance and provision division), with the subject "diversion of funds in budgetary overhead". The memo has been marked to heads of all units, district DCPs and the police chief's officer on special duty (OSD) Manishi Chandra.
"It has been learnt that diversion of funds might have occurred in some of the budgetary 'object head' during the financial year 2022-23," the memo reads. "It is worth mentioning that General Financial Rules, 2017 shall be followed by all departments and ministries of Government of India while utilising the funds in various object heads. In case of any ambiguity regarding correct classification of any head, the police HQ is to be approached to decide the matter," it states.
The memo puts on record that if no clarification is sought, it will be presumed that no doubt as to the appropriateness of the booking of an expenditure under the respective 'object head' was encountered and that all instructions were complied with in letter and spirit.
"It means that if bills claimed are not towards what they are claimed to be, the onus of any irregularities detected at a later stage will be on the unit/district heads," explained an officer.
The expenditure by senior cops under the head 'professional services' is under the scanner. The memo clarifies that expenditure which can be booked under head 'professional services' includes outsourcing of professionals, consultants, legal charges, hiring of manpower and payment to the other departments for services rendered. No bill of 'minor works' can be booked under this head, it says.
The special commissioner has further asked for details of expenditure of this financial year.
"All the heads of offices are hereby directed to submit the details of expenditure booked under 'professional services' in the prescribed format. The information so provided shall be checked by the appropriate unit of Delhi Police. In case it is found at a later stage that the information provided by the district/units are incorrect, appropriate action shall be taken against the concerned head of office," the memo reads.