The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case over alleged irregularities in the operation and management of night shelters in the national capital run by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) in 2023.
A preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that the Shelter Management Authority (SMA), which was responsible for deployment of manpower including supervisors, caregivers (for three shifts), sweepers, security guards (for women’s shelters) and relievers for all staff, used ghost employees who had never worked in the shelters, manipulated their attendance and deposited their salaries in their accounts.
The agency named Sohail Khan, president of Sofia Education and Social Welfare Association – the SMA was given work to run the night shelters, two other individuals – Amir and Sonu Kushwaha, and unidentified public servants in its first information report (FIR) filed on April 27, which recently became public. The federal agency has been examining violations since May last year as part of a preliminary investigation (PE).
DUSIB is under the Delhi Government and this special contract for running the night shelters under Group 1 and 2 was awarded to Sofia Education and Social Welfare Society in 2023. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was in power in Delhi at that time.
“Investigation revealed that some individuals posed as employees (caretakers/sweepers) of various night shelters and their registration in registers was processed, including the issuance of ESIC benefits. It was found that fixed monthly amounts were deposited in their bank accounts, which were later withdrawn and returned in cash to the persons managing the said society. These individuals never actually worked in any night shelter, indicating that their identities were used only for the purpose of withdrawing government funds.”
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The CBI said that many of the individuals were working in other professions or independent businesses or working elsewhere, and were “falsely represented as employees of night shelters and their salaries were paid through bank accounts for the relevant period.”
“Verification of their professional associations and mobile location data established that they were present at their actual places of work or residence and not at any night shelter during the period for which attendance and salary were shown,” the FIR adds.
The CBI claimed that the names of fake office-level employees were included in the attendance records after they were submitted.
She added: “These individuals have never been seen working at the night shelters by other staff or residents. The presence of these fake employees has also been confirmed by numerous staff and residents at the night shelters, confirming widespread falsification of records and fraudulent payroll disbursement.”
Regarding the role of DUSIB, the CBI said that appointed officials of the Delhi government body were supposed to conduct inspections as per standard operating procedures.
She added: “But no reports were submitted regarding the absence of fake employees, despite their jurisdiction over the relevant shelter centers.”
The CBI said it was a “well-planned conspiracy involving fraudulent documents, misappropriation of government funds and active collusion with individuals and public servants.”
We are awaiting comment from both DUSIB and SMA and will update the version as it is received.
