Delhi Vigilance Minister Atishi on Saturday initiated a probe into a complaint against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and summoned all files related to Bamnoli land acquisition for further action, officials said.
The complaint alleged that the chief secretary’s son was employed by a relative of a landowner, who received increased compensation for land acquired for a road project, official sources said on Friday.
Atishi directed the divisional commissioner and vigilance director to provide her with all files related to the land acquisition in Bamnoli by 7 pm on Saturday, the officials said.
Sources said that in response to a note from the minister, the Vigilance Directorate has cited several guidelines, including those from the Vigilance Manual 2021, and pointed out that it does not have the authority to investigate the matter, which is already being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
However, the minister was given a certified copy of all files of the Directorate of Vigilance related to the case, the sources said.
The management also sought a copy of the complaint from the minister so that it could be investigated in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Vigilance Commission.
In separate notes to the divisional commissioner and director of vigilance, the minister said that “no files on this matter should be processed through the chief secretary as he is the subject of investigation and therefore has a conflict of interest”.
Reacting to the complaint against him, the chief secretary has maintained that it is an act of “mud-slinging” by “disgruntled” people facing vigilance inquiry.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday flagged the complaint for investigation and asked the vigilance minister to submit a detailed report on the matter.
The Chief Minister has received a complaint regarding the acquisition of land in Bamnoli village for the Dwarka Expressway, Atishi said in her note.
“It is alleged that the two landowners – Subhash Chand Kathuria and Vinod Kathuria – are relatives of a business associate of the son of current Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar,” she said.
In May, the then District Magistrate (Southwest Delhi) Hemant Kumar awarded Rs 353 crore as compensation to two persons for 19 acres of land acquired in Bamnoli, at the rate of Rs 18.54 crore per acre. The land was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2018 for the construction of the Dwarka Expressway.
“DM, South West has quashed a 2018 decision of the bench, Additional District Magistrate, awarding compensation of Rs 41.52 crore for the same plot, based on a valuation of Rs 53 lakh per acre,” it said note.
Hemant Kumar was recently suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a CBI probe was ordered in the case.
Atishi said the Vigilance Directorate has already probed the issue of land acquisition in Bamnoli and Hemant Kumar’s involvement.
“However, the role of the Prime Minister has not yet been explored. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, an inquiry has been initiated in this regard,” she said.
The Chief Secretary had earlier said that proactive action, including initiation of a CBI probe, had been assured against the concerned officer.
The original allocation of Rs 41 crore was increased to Rs 353.79 crore by the then District Magistrate (Southwest Delhi) on May 15. Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kumar submitted the matter to the Chief Secretary on June 2.
The chief secretary directed the divisional commissioner to monitor the issue on a fortnightly basis and later also asked the Vigilance Directorate to look into the matter.
Further, with the approval of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, a CBI probe and departmental action against the District Magistrate were recommended to the MHA on September 20.
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