New Delhi: The tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and certain IAS officers in the national capital saw further controversy Friday after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against unknown persons in connection with the alleged removal of sensitive files from the office of special secretary (vigilance) Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar.
The AAP government, for its part, has called the FIR “false” and questioned why it was filed against unknown persons.
Rajasekhar, who had been part of probes into Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy and alleged irregularities in connection with the chief minister’s official residence among others, was divested of his duties by the AAP-led administration on 13 May. This came two days after a Supreme Court order gave the Delhi government power over the appointments and transfers of civil servants.
However, after the central government issued an ordinance wresting back these powers, Rajasekhar was reinstated through an order dated 22 May. The AAP government has described this order as “illegal“, with minister Saurabh Bharadwaj — who holds the portfolios of services and vigilance and has been at the centre of the tussle with Rajasekhar — saying that he himself was the “competent authority” to decide on the appointment.
On 16 May, Rajasekhar had alleged in a letter to the chief secretary that his sealed office had been broken into and searched the night before, and that files related to ongoing probes may have been tampered with. Now, the Delhi Police has filed an FIR under IPC sections 380 (theft in any building used for human dwelling or for the custody of property), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 464 (making false documents).
According to news reports, the Delhi Police said the allegedly removed records involved sensitive information and vigilance matters concerning investigations into prominent individuals and officials. These matters were at various stages of inquiry.
Specifically, the records and cases reportedly encompassed chargesheets from the Excise Department, documents related to the Chief Minister’s Residence, inquiries concerning payments at the Directorate of Information and Publicity, matters concerning the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), investigations into alleged gold theft in the Trade and Taxes Department, the alleged nexus between prison officials and the Minister of Prison, the demolition of a heritage structure by the former CEO of DJB, and the Feedback Unit, among others.
However, minister Bharadwaj termed the FIR “false” in a tweet Friday, asking why it was registered against unknown persons. He said shadow files (copies) had been created on the directions of vigilance secretary Sudhir Kumar with Rajasekhar’s knowledge, and shared a note signed by Kumar.
Mr Sudhir Kr, Sec Vigilance was appointed by LG not us. He had clearly written on 16.5.2023 to CS Mr Naresh Kr that shadow files were created on his directions. Nothing to do with Minister & it was in knowledge of his junior Mr Rajshekhar.
Still false FIR against unknown ? pic.twitter.com/Q6PlSNbKaw
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) June 2, 2023
In a press release Friday, the AAP government also said Rajasekhar was “allegedly a habitual offender” who had previously been reprimanded by his supervising officers for “illegal” possession of sensitive vigilance files.
“Here is a direction about the same Rajasekhar when he was reprimanded by [the] Secretary, New Delhi Municipal Council [NDMC] in August 2019. He along with his colleague was keeping sensitive files illegally, with a possibility of tampering or destroying them, even when he had been transferred from NDMC,” the government said while sharing a purported copy of the direction.
Bharadwaj also shared a purported note from Rajasekhar in another tweet Friday, saying that the latter had “accepted” that work was withdrawn from him and sent 76 files to “his boss” (vigilance secretary Kumar). The minister then asked why Rajasekhar had retained “the rest of the files”.
Mr Rajshekhar in his note below accepts work was withdrawn from him,he sent 76 files to his boss.
Why did he retain rest of the files ? Was it not illegal to retain files when work was withdrawn ? If files were tempered who tempered the files ? He and his boss should answer. pic.twitter.com/RdMAt2cL5H
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) June 2, 2023
ThePrint reached Rajasekhar for a response over WhatsApp calls and messages, but he refused to comment.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Delhi ordinance–a territorial fight & policy making at its best with Rs 2,000 withdrawal