Indicting Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for misusing government funds, Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin on Wednesday recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to caution her party on reimbursing `11 crore. The Lokayukta indictment came on an advertisement campaign with a ‘political purpose’ in the run-up to the 2008 Delhi Assembly elections. He also recommended that Dikshit be cautioned for the alleged misuse of government funds.
Sarin said either Dikshit or her party should reimburse Rs 11 crore, which is half the cost of advertisement issued in 2008, or any amount that the President felt adequate. The Lokayukta had initiated an inquiry into the issue based on a complaint lodged by former Delhi state BJP president Vijender Gupta. Gupta alleged that the CM had abused her position to run an advertising campaign in the run-up to the Assembly polls.