Amid brewing trouble between bureaucrats and the Delhi Cabinet, the AAP government has called for withdrawing all work from Special Secretary (Vigilance) Y V V J Rajshekhar, who is probing the alleged corruption in the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bungalow.
In a reply to his superiors, Rajshekhar said he was being “prevented from performing his duties” and apprehended “serious threat and diversion of records” pertaining to sensitive matters like the excise policy and the chief minister’s residence renovation. He also requested that the matter be taken to the High Court for a stay.
Citing complaints against Rajshekhar for “running an extortion racket and demanding protection money”, Delhi Vigilance Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on May 13 ordered withdrawing all work assigned to the officer with immediate effect. Sources said Rajshekhar is the vigilance officer probing the alleged Delhi liquor scam and the renovation of the Delhi chief minister’s bungalow. He is also probing the demolition of a heritage monument by the then CEO of Delhi Jal Board, Udit Prakash to construct a sprawling bungalow for himself.
When contacted, the officer confirmed receiving the note.
“I have sent the report to my seniors regarding the note of the honourable minister. Rest is Ishwar ki marzi (will of God),” Rajshekhar said. According to the official note sent to the officer, “There are complaints that Rajshekhar is running an extortion racket and demanding protection money. This allegation is quite serious which needs to be examined in detail… Therefore, all work assigned to Rajshekhar is hereby withdrawn. “The same may be distributed amongst ADs and ADs will directly report to Secretary (Vigilance). The ADs should directly put up the files to Secretary (Vigilance). This is for immediate compliance till further orders,” it stated.
The minister also distributed Rajshekhar’s work among the assistant directors (ADs) in the vigilance department with specific directions to the ADs to report and put up files directly to the secretary (Vigilance).
Sources said Bharadwaj had also directed that records from the senior IAS officer’s room be seized.
The IAS officer, who is holding the charge of Special Secretary (Vigilance) with the additional charge of Special Secretary (Services), said he is a “Member of IAS and protected under Rule 311 of the Constitution of India and also protected under Rule 7 of IAS (Cadre Rules 1954)”.
“One cannot deny the rights which are accrued to a civil servant/public servant under the rule which he is entitled for,” he said in his reply. Stressing that he must be allowed to perform his duties objectively and dispassionately as per rule of law and documents and records that are available on the file, Rajshekhar underlined that vigilance inquiries are done as per the set protocols and manuals prepared by the Central Vigilance Commission (VGC). “It is just like Mathematics and there is no scope for subjectivity while dealing with such cases as this case is filtered through due process as established by Law.
With inputs from News18
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