Delhi: An official who was relieved of his duties by the Delhi government alleged that his office room was “searched” late on Monday night. In a detailed report to the lieutenant governor’s official, Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar expressed apprehension that “sensitive” files related to excise policy and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence renovation could be destroyed or tampered with. He also presented the report before the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Additional Commissioner of Police, Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi.
The AAP government called him a “totally corrupt officer”.
Earlier, the AAP government, in a statement, had called him a “totally corrupt officer” and questioned his interest in retaining some files despite being ordered to withdraw his work on May 13. entered his office at night, the government will conduct a thorough inquiry whether it is true or not. If this is true, then strict action will be taken.
Major administrative reshuffle in Delhi
The AAP government and a section of bureaucrats are at loggerheads after the government announced a major administrative reshuffle after the Supreme Court gave it control over transfers and postings of officers. Delhi Vigilance Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on May 13, citing complaints against Rajasekhar for allegedly running an extortion racket and demanding protection money, ordered withdrawal of all duties assigned to the officer with immediate effect.
Sources said vigilance officials were probing the alleged Delhi liquor scam and alleged corruption in the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. He is also probing the demolition of a heritage monument by a former Delhi Jal Board CEO to build a huge bungalow for himself.
The officer was “prevented from performing his duties”
Rajasekhar, in a reply to his superiors on May 15, said he was “being prevented from performing his duties” and faced “serious threats and falsification of records” relating to sensitive matters such as excise policy and renovation of the Chief Minister’s residence. There is apprehension of He also requested that the matter be taken to the High Court for a stay.
the rooms may have been damaged
In his latest report to the office of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, he said he has “serious apprehensions that our rooms may have been tampered with and there is every possibility of breach of confidentiality, tampering with records, tampering with records etc.” He claimed that his office room at the Delhi Secretariat was searched late on Monday night.
After receiving instructions from Bhardwaj on May 15, the officer said, he sent 76 files that he had to Secretary (Vigilance) in the “confidential” section, “without examining these 76 files, merely recorded the instructions of the Hon. Minister where he directed the undersigned not to examine the files.”
However, 12 files which were “more sensitive”, some related to excise policy and renovation of the chief minister’s residence, were not sent but kept in custody, he said. “As per the ‘principle of consent’ it is not advisable to transfer or send the files either photocopied or otherwise to the Hon’ble Minister. We need to carefully examine the matter before considering it with reference to the oral instructions of the Hon’ble Minister,” The report said.
The officers were called to open his room
Rajasekhar said that at around 9.14 pm on Monday night, he received a call from an officer informing him that officials have been called to open his room to submit the records. “The undersigned seriously objected to such call for carrying records at midnight as per the said instructions of Hon’ble Minister (Vigilance) and strongly objected not to indulge in such act.”
“It is a serious lapse in the present scenario”
“However, preliminary investigation has revealed that…MTS (a multi tasking staff) has opened the room…and photocopied all the records allegedly from the night of 15th May 2023 till 3am of 16th May 2023 “Not sure whether any record/file has been taken or tampered with or photocopied. It is a serious lapse in the present scenario,” wrote Rajasekhar, the undersigned in his report.
“Records will be destroyed or may be destroyed”
He said, “The undersigned is apprehensive that the records will be destroyed or may be destroyed over time.”
He requested the senior officers to take appropriate action at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the AAP government called him the “Wankhede of the Delhi Vigilance Department”, referring to former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede, who is currently under CBI probe. “He is a totally corrupt officer…how he was posted in vigilance in the first place by the LG needs to be probed. He was one of the key accused in the CNG kit scam and the CBI has initiated disciplinary action against him,” he said. Was recommended. Many complaints were received.” It has been received against him from many people and many officials that he demands protection money,” it alleged.
“How come he still has all the files if he’s been officially removed from work on Saturday? … What interest does he have in keeping some of the files even though he’s been removed from that job?” AAP government asked.
(With inputs from PTI)