L-G refuses to contemplate Delhi govt’s report on land acquisition case

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V Ok Saxena has refused to contemplate a report of Vigilance Minister Atishi alleging “prima facie complicity” of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar within the Bamnoli land acquisition matter, saying it appears to be “completely based” on the minister’s preconceived assumptions and presumptions, sources within the Raj Niwas stated on Sunday.

On its finish, the Delhi authorities stated the LG ought to “allow an impartial enquiry by CBI into the matter and not prejudge the matter and protect certain individuals because of his fondness for them”.

In a file noting the federal government’s submission of the report back to him, Saxena has stated the report “could very well go on to hamper the ongoing investigation, instead of facilitating it”.

I’ve obtained the ‘Preliminary Report’ on ‘Complaints’, submitted by the Hon’ble Minister (Vigilance) and endorsed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister. It is shocking and unlucky, to say the least, that this report, which offers with delicate vigilance-related issues and has been marked to my Secretariat in confidential cowl, is already in public area and its digital/digital copies are freely obtainable and particulars thereof have been broadly reported within the media,” he has stated within the file.

Noting that selective textual content from the report has been purportedly leaked to the media, the LG has stated it seems “prima facie that the whole motive of this supposed inquiry was not to unearth the truth, but to start a media trial and politicise this whole issue”, whilst it’s earlier than the Supreme Court.

“One is forced to wonder whether the same doesn’t amount to creating a public perception prejudice, aimed at influencing the Hon’ble courts,” he has added.

Saxena has additionally identified that the matter is already being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“Since the matter is already under investigation by the CBI as approved by me based on recommendations of the Chief Secretary and the Divisional Commissioner, it is my considered view that the recommendation … before me for consideration is prejudiced and devoid of merit and therefore, cannot be agreed to,” he has stated.

Saxena highlighted that the proposal for CBI investigation was authorised by him on the suggestions obtained from the chief secretary and the divisional commissioner themselves.

“The thrust of the Hon’ble Minister in this Report seems to be on the alleged connivance of the District Magistrate, the Divisional Commissioner and the Chief Secretary resulting in loss to government exchequer. However even the basic principles of enquiries have not been followed in the instant case,” he famous within the file.

The LG additionally stated the chief secretary and the divisional commissioner demonstrated exceptional “administrative prudence” within the matter.

“Simply, connecting some dots here and there without an unbroken chain of evidence whatsoever, would not serve any purpose. This report seems to be completely based on preconceived assumptions and presumption of the Hon’ble Minister and could very well go on to hamper the ongoing investigation, instead of facilitating it,” he famous.

Calling the report “half-baked”, he stated that such “questionable work on the part of the Hon’ble Minister by using her official position for apparent political gains, may make the government vulnerable to legal consequences”.

Saxena additionally cited media stories that the matter has been referred to the CBI and ED by Kejriwal and underlined that it’s “beyond their competence as per law established”.

Reacting to the event, the AAP dispensation stated it “is a brazen attempt on the part of the LG to protect his favourite officers, namely the chief secretary and divisional commissioner”.

“If they have done nothing wrong, why is LG obstructing an enquiry against them? The Vigilance Minister’s report was prompted because of a whistleblower complaint and media reports highlighting CS’s role in the scam, yet the LG has chosen to launch a political attack on the government itself. In all fairness, all available evidence should be forwarded to CBI to enable them to conduct an impartial enquiry,” they charged.

Regarding LG’s objection that solely he has the ability to refer any matter to CBI, the federal government stated that matter is already registered with CBI and now, any citizen, who has any proof in that case, can ship the identical to CBI.

“We request the Hon’ble LG to permit an neutral enquiry by CBI into the matter and never prejudge the matter and defend sure people due to his fondness for them.

It is a matter of indisputable fact that the chief secretary’s son is an worker and a director in beneficiary firm. We are shocked that the LG finds nothing uncommon in the truth that a 30-year-old son of CS is a director in an internet of corporations, lots of that are registered on the similar tackle, have similar e mail ID and have similar set of individuals as administrators working in numerous sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, waste administration, actual property and many others. Interestingly, most of those corporations have their enterprise footprint in Delhi, the place CS is the top of forms and surprisingly, the businesses develop into beneficiaries of a number of govt contracts and largesse. LG thinks that is all regular and CS has no function in it?” they claimed.

They accused the chief secretary of appointing Hemant Kumar as the brand new DM southwest quickly after changing into CS.

“It is wrong to say that CS on his own recommended enquiry against the DM. The exorbitant compensation award by DM was given on May 15. It was during the joint visit of Union Minister (Transport), Nitin Gadkari and the LG on 18.05.2023 that the Union Minister and NHAI strongly raised their objections. Left with no option and to save their skin, the CS and Div Com recommended enquiries soon after. Under which law does an accused go scot-free just because he orders an investigation into the crime?” the federal government alleged.

Kumar has denied any wrongdoing and alleged that “mudslinging” is being accomplished by individuals with “vested interests” in opposition to whom vigilance motion was taken for corruption.

The 670-page report of the vigilance minister was submitted to the LG by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s workplace on Wednesday. The report has demanded Kumar’s suspension and claimed that the size of “undue benefits” within the matter is greater than Rs 897 crore.

“The enquiry itself was compromised as a result of the CS, being the Chief Vigilance Officer, presided over the Vigilance investigation whereas himself having shut connections with the beneficiaries of this rip-off, they stated.

This is a transparent case of battle of curiosity’ and a violation of Para (c) of Section 11.7 of the Vigilance Manual. Further, the enquiry sought to cover the true scale of the rip-off by valuing it at Rs 312 Crore as a substitute of Rs 850 Crore as was introduced out within the Minister’s report. All these vital information have been conveniently ignored by the LG. Why is the LG so keen and impatient to offer a clear chit to his favorite officers with out an enquiry?” they requested.

The 19-acre land in query was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India in 2018 for the development of the Dwarka Expressway.