Sting operation by former Tehelka journalists and telecast on STAR News shows six MPs striking deals to get projects implemented in their constituencies.
NEW DELHI: Last week 11 MPs had to wrestle with Duryodhan. Now six others have been trapped in a Chakravyuh.
A sting operation, codenamed Chakrayvuh, conducted over six months by two former Tehelka journalists, Jamshed Khan and Mayabhushan Nagvekar, and telecast on STAR News on Monday showed six MPs striking deals to get projects implemented in their constituencies using funds from the MPs’ Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
The exposé comes exactly a week after Operation Duryodhan, conducted by another former Tehelka journalist, Aniruddha Bahal, and telecast on Aaj Tak, showed 11 MPs accepting bribes to raise questions in Parliament. In fact, Chakra-vyuh had to be wound up after Duryodhan because MPs had become wary of requests from unknown parties.
Under the MPLADS, Rs2 crore is sanctioned every year to all members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for carrying out developmental works of their choice in their constituencies. With nearly 780 MPs in Parliament, the annual budget for the scheme works out to Rs1560 crore.
For Chakrayvuh, Khan went around meeting MPs as Rahul Sharma, lobbying manager for a non-existent NGO named Ashray Abhiyaan, and offering to bring development projects to their constituencies using MPLADS funds. At least six MPs agreed to his proposals but demanded varying amounts of money for issuing the requisite letter, for their ‘protection’, or for other ‘services’.
Once again, the BJP has been hit hardest by the exposé. If six of the 11 MPs trapped by Duryodhan belonged to the former ruling party, three of the six in Chakrayvuh are from its ranks (CP Singh, FS Kulaste, Ramswaroop Koli, all Lok Sabha).
The other parties hit by Monday’s revelations are the Congress (Churchill Alemao, Lok Sabha) and the Samajwadi Party (PN Yadav, Lok Sabha). The sixth MP, Sakshi Maharaj of the Rajya Sabha, is an independent supported by the Samajwadi Party.
Stung by the exposé, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is likely to ask the five-member house committee set up to probe the question scandal to inquire into the MPLADS scandal also. The committee has to submit its final report on the first sting by Wednesday.
Chatterjee said, “If the allegations are found to be true, consequences will follow.”
He will discuss the scandal and remedial action on Tuesday morning with the floor leaders of various parties. Already, Samajwadi general secretary Amar Singh has asked his party’s MP Yadav to quit.
Meanwhile, the shame is palpable. The BJP and the Congress were unwilling to comment. The CPI(M), the only major party to remain untouched by both stings, was elated. Nilotpal Basu said, “There should be an inquiry.” The issue is likely to figure in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday.
Arun Shourie, who as minister for programme implementation in the NDA government had pleaded for scrapping the MPLADS, said, “In all cases of this kind the only remedy is swift and severe punishment.”
The Left parties too are opposed to the concept, arguing that it centralises development work and that legislators should not have any executive functions.
If the scheme is retained, they want it to be made more “scientific” with adequate checks against misuse.
What MPLADS is all about
What is the Member of Parliament’s Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)?
Every MP (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) gets Rs2 crore per year as MPLADS fund.
A Lok Sabha member has to spend the funds within his constituency only
A Rajya Sabha member can spend the money in any part of the country but preferably in the state from which he is nominated.
In case of Maharashtra, every member of the Legislature (Assembly and Council) gets Rs80 lakh per year as MLALAD fund.
How is this money spent?
The MP or MLA first identifies a scheme he wants to fund and then gives a letter to the District Collector stating that the scheme should be planned, approved and funded from his MPLADS fund. Ideally, the MP’s role should end with giving the letter.
Does the MP or MLA have direct control over these funds?
No. Normally, the district collector fixes the agency and contractors and the District Planning and Development Committee (DPDC), headed by the guardian minister of the district approves everything. However, since MP and MLAs are ex-officio members of the committee, they can influence the process.
How can an MP or MLA take a bribe despite not being in charge of the funds?
Corrupt MPs and MLAs first fix the agency and contractor and then release the letter mean for the collector for execution of work. They charge money for influencing the decision-making.
What percentage of the funds involved in the scheme are siphoned?
Though the amount varies from one project to another, allegedly 10 to 20 per cent of the project cost changes hands.
Sting story
STAR News and Detective Intelligence Guild (DIG) conduct ‘Operation Chakravyuh’ to investigate corruption in allotting work for MPLADS funds.
The operation continues for six months.
DIG reporter Jamshed Khan poses as the lobbying manager for a fictitious NGO called Ashray Abhiyaan.
Money transactions are recorded in two cases. Other MPs show eagerness to accept commission for MPLADS projects.
One MP is ready to release MPLADS funds if he is paid 30% commission.
One MP instructs staff to pay 1% to district bureaucrats once all formalities are complete.
Two MPs demand money for ‘protection’ services.
One MP asks point blank for a cut from the project worth Rs2.5 crore.
One MP refuses the lure of money and steers clear of the trap.
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