The Aam Aadmi Party today demanded sacking of North MCD mayor Preeti Aggarwal in connection with charges of corruption against her while a vigilance inquiry is underway against her on the basis of a complaint to the President Ram Nath Kovindand Lt Governor Anil Baijal by a Supreme Court lawyer last year, stating that Aggarwal allegedly charged 10 percent commission in clearing tenders.

The party also demanded a CBI probe into the graft charges and resignation of Bharatiya Janata Party state unit chief Manoj Tiwari.

 Aggarwal is accused of receiving kickbacks in clearing tenders worth crores of rupee. A complaint was filed by a Supreme Court lawyer last December with the Lt Governor stating that Aggarwal allegedly charged 10 per cent commission in clearing tenders.

Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed to have “clinching evidence” against North Delhi Mayor Preeti Aggarwal. AAP spokesperson Dilip Pandey told the media here that a senior officer in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) wrote to the civic body’s commissioner asking to register an FIR against BJP leader Aggarwal “for interfering in the evaluation of technical bidding to help a company”.

“We had time and again highlighted in the past that the Mayor Preeti Aggarwal is corrupt, now only one can see the proof behind our complaints. We demand that for a fair probe the mayor should be removed from the post and or the matter should be investigated by the CBI” said Pandey.

Meanwhile the Delhi BJP defending Aggarwal said the allegation was to “divert” from real problems of Delhi for which the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is responsible.

However, Aggarwal has denied all allegations claiming she has nothing to do with the tendering of any work and all such works are decided in the House by the Standing Committee.

In response to the allegations, Aggarwal challenged the AAP to prove the allegation or else apologise. She said she was being targeted deliberately because she had launched a campaign against corrupt officials in the corporation.

“I am fighting against corruption by certain officials and have written to several senior agencies since May 2017 and such officials have connived with AAP leaders to frame false allegations against me,” she said

“AAP is anti-woman party. Arvind Kejriwal does not allow representation of women in his party and he is maligning my image to weaken women leadership in Delhi. I will sue them (AAP) if they do not apologise,” she said.

Context: The inquiry was ordered on the basis of a complaint lodged by a Delhi-based lawyer who alleged serious irregularities in awarding contracts, interfering with the tender process, various purchases as well as transfer and postings of officers in the corporation.

The complaint said the mayor pressured officials concerned to award contracts to her favorite people while she also hand-picked officials for posting in engineering and building departments that are considered the cream posts.

Aggarwal has also been indicted by the additional commissioner of NMCD who, in a report, has said the mayor illegally entered the office of the deputy commissioner (headquarters) while the tendering process was underway.

On November 13, 2017, the mayor entered the office of deputy commissioner K Mahesh while the evaluation of the tender for Civic Centre security was being conducted. She asked for tender documents to which the deputy commissioner replied it was not possible as it was a confidential matter, the report submitted by additional commissioner (revenue) Renu K Jagdev said.

Preeti Aggarwal, North Delhi mayor. Tribune photo