Following the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's submission of Vigilance Minister Atishi's report regarding alleged corruption charges against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in the Dwarka Expressway project to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena, the Delhi government has taken a significant step.
Reports indicate that the Delhi government has escalated the matter concerning a Rs 850 crore land acquisition controversy linked to the Dwarka Expressway project by referring it to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision, sanctioned by Chief Minister Kejriwal, aims to address the concerning allegations.
The allegations against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar involve purportedly inflating land costs by 22 times to favor a company associated with his son, Karan Chauhan. Additionally, the acquisition of the land in 2015 at a significantly reduced rate by the same company has prompted a reference to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate potential money laundering charges.
Earlier, Kejriwal had advised the Lt. Governor and recommended the immediate suspension and removal of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar from his post. This directive was coupled with instructions for Atishi to forward the report to both the CBI and ED.
This development transpired after Atishi conducted an inquiry against Kumar, submitting a detailed 670-page preliminary report highlighting alleged misconduct and improper benefits provided to a company linked to Naresh Kumar's son, Karan Chauhan.
The comprehensive preliminary report suggests that Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar's involvement potentially facilitated an illicit profit of Rs 850 crore for a company connected to his son. It implicates several officials, including District Magistrate (Southwest) Hemant Kumar and landowners in the land acquisition along the Dwarka Expressway.
The report brings to light concerning facts indicating an attempt to undervalue the corruption scale, allegedly involving high-ranking officers including the Chief Vigilance Officer and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. Such actions, as per the report, seemingly aimed to evade scrutiny and accountability.
Atishi's recommendations to the Chief Minister include the immediate removal of Naresh Kumar and Ashwani Kumar from their positions to prevent interference in the investigation and to safeguard relevant files from potential tampering or destruction.
Furthermore, Atishi advised disciplinary actions against Naresh Kumar and Ashwani Kumar and advocated for the CBI's involvement to investigate the Chief Secretary and Divisional Commissioner's alleged complicity with Hemant Kumar and landowners.
The report's findings also prompted a suggestion to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate potential offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, concerning the chain of transactions from the land purchase in 2015 leading up to the contentious compensation awarded in 2023.
(With Agency Inputs)
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