Delhi LG vs AAP: Atishi submits 670-page report against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar

Delhi Vigilance Minister Atishi has submitted a 670-page probe report to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging prima facie complicity of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in a land acquisition matter.

New Delhi: In a significant development, Delhi Vigilance Minister Atishi has submitted a 670-page probe report to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging prima facie complicity of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in a land acquisition matter. The report claims that the alleged irregularities would have resulted in a windfall gain of Rs 897 crore for the stakeholders involved.

Key Findings of the Report

According to the report, the minister has recommended the removal of Chief Secretary Kumar and Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kumar from their posts to ensure a fair probe. The report further alleges that the chief secretary's son worked in a realty firm whose director was the son-in-law of one of the landowners who received enhanced compensation for their land.

Response from Chief Secretary

In a statement, Chief Secretary Kumar questioned the basis of such allegations, stating that he joined the position only last year and has not had access to the copy of the report. He further raised concerns about the undervalued purchase of the land in question by the landowners in 2015 and the inaction of the authorities at that time.

Role of the Divisional Commissioner

The divisional commissioner, Ashwani Kumar, defended the chief secretary and claimed that the complaint against him was part of a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He asserted that the matter came to light in May when the compensation for land acquisition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was hiked from Rs 41 crore to Rs 353 crore by the then district magistrate, Hemant Kumar, who was later suspended and is facing a CBI inquiry.

Allegations of Undue Benefits

The vigilance minister's report, however, claims that the scale of undue benefits is much larger than previously estimated. It alleges that the landowners would have gained Rs 897.1 crore for their land based on the illegal and exorbitant arbitration award given by the then DM Southwest, Hemant Kumar. The report further alleges that the connections and chronology suggest the prima facie appearance of complicity between the chief secretary, Hemant Kumar, and the landowners.

Recommendations and Next Steps

The vigilance minister has recommended that the report be sent directly to the lieutenant governor by the chief minister, along with appropriate recommendations. The report also suggests referring the matter to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigating the possibility of money laundering in the land purchase and subsequent illegal compensation awarded. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court recently set aside the award of Rs 353 crore for the acquisition of land in Bamnoli, which was declared by the then district magistrate southwest in May this year.

The submission of the probe report by the vigilance minister has further intensified the ongoing tussle between the Delhi government bureaucracy and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation. The allegations against the chief secretary and the subsequent developments have raised questions about transparency and accountability in land acquisition matters. The outcome of the investigation and the actions taken based on the report will be closely watched by the public and political circles in Delhi.