Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, recommending the immediate removal of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar over an alleged corruption case involving land pocket acquisition for the Dwarka expressway. Kejriwal has also called for a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED), according to officials familiar with the matter.
Vigilance Minister Atishi submitted a comprehensive 650-page preliminary probe report to Kejriwal, revealing alleged irregularities in the land acquisition for the Dwarka expressway. The report claims that Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar benefitted a company linked to his son with ₹897 crore of “illicit profits.” The minister recommended the suspension of the chief secretary and divisional commissioner Ashwani Kumar, urging an investigation by the CBI and referral to the ED for possible violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The controversy centers on a 19-acre parcel of land in Bamnoli village acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2018. The compensation for the land was initially set at ₹41.52 crore, but during arbitration in May this year, the amount was allegedly increased to ₹353.79 crore.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and urged swift action. The Prime Minister’s office announced compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those killed in the accident and ₹50,000 for the injured.
As the political fallout continues, Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has denied the charges, welcoming an investigation and attributing the allegations to vested interests. The situation remains tense, with Atishi’s report highlighting a clear nexus between Kumar, his son, and beneficiary landowners, leading to a windfall gain of ₹897.1 crores at the expense of the public exchequer.
Sources By Agencies