New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR following a preliminary inquiry into large-scale corruption allegations involving the fraudulent management of night shelters under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).The FIR has been filed against yet-to-be identified govt officials and three persons, including an NGO owner. The investigation stems from a 2023 complaint alleging that tenders for the operation and management of night shelters were fraudulently awarded and subsequently exploited to siphon off govt funds.According to CBI, an NGO named Sofia Educational and Welfare Society was awarded management contracts for clusters 1 and 2 in 2023. While the society was responsible for deploying supervisors, caretakers and security staff, CBI’s inquiry revealed a “ghost employee” racket designed to embezzle the salary reimbursements provided by Delhi govt.Investigators found that the society enrolled numerous people as staff members who, in reality, never set foot in a night shelter. These “bogus employees” were often engaged in entirely different professions or businesses. While fixed monthly salaries were credited to their bank accounts to maintain a veneer of legitimacy, the funds were systematically withdrawn and returned in cash to the society’s management.“Mobile location data and forensic analysis confirmed that during their supposed shifts, these people were actually at their primary workplaces or residences, often 10 to 15 km from their assigned shelters,” the FIR says.The CBI’s report alleges a “well-planned conspiracy” where attendance records were allegedly doctored at the office level after being submitted by field staff.Long-term residents and actual employees of the shelters corroborated the findings, stating that they had never seen the individuals named in the payroll. The fraud was further facilitated by a lack of oversight. Although a 2024 standard operating procedure required regular inspections by DUSIB officials, no report of absenteeism was ever filed.Technological safeguards were also reportedly bypassed. Despite a mandate requiring attendance to be logged via a “real-time data app,” the system was never implemented, yet Delhi govt continued to reimburse salary bills without verification. Additionally, the 2023 tender was approved by a chief engineer rather than the full DUSIB board — a departure from the 2018 protocol. This has raised questions regarding the legal delegation of power for such high-value contracts.The accused now face charges under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 420 (cheating) of IPC, along with Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act.The CBI is trying to identify the “unknown public servants” whose connivance allowed the misappropriation of the govt funds.
