Cracking the whip against corruption, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given nod to a CBI investigation against a former Sub-Registrar of Hauz Khas for sale of Government land measuring over eight bighas in Said-ul-Ajaib area worth crores of rupees in December 2019, sources said on Monday. The L-G also approved an ACB enquiry against a Junior Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) for taking a bribe.
Last month, five officers, including an ADM, two SDMs, a Sub-Registrar and a Deputy Secretary of Delhi Government, were suspended on L-G's instructions over alleged land-related "scams" in north and south Delhi.
Hooda, the then Sub-Registrar of Said-ul-Ajaib, in South Delhi, registered sale deed of land measuring eight bighas and 14 bighas, in a prima facie case of illegality for financial benefits from private individuals concerned, without proper verification and obtaining ‘NOC’ from office of LAC, South and caused huge loss to State exchequer.
The notified Government gram sabha land in question was in possession of forest department of Delhi Government.
As per official sources, the CBI had sought permission for granting sanction for investigation into criminal misconduct by Hooda on February 22 on the basis of a complaint date April 9, 2021. The CBI had informed that discreet inquiry has established that prima facie there is merit in complaint.
“It may be noted that decisions in such cases are based purely on merit without any extraneous consideration and involve ample application of mind. This came to fore when L-G did not grant approval to the request of the ACB to register a case against SS Saini, Ex. En. and Shiv Kumar, Assistant Engineer, PWD, citing unjustified delay, lack of any justification or reasoning and absence of any documents, records to support the allegations levelled, for registration of case,” it said.
“In this matter, the PWD had conducted a departmental inquiry and submitted that there were no irregularities committed. The L-G also advised the Directorate of Vigilance to ensure that such requests by the ACB are submitted for his consideration only after due diligence and called for an explanation from the officers of the ACB for keeping the matter pending for about five years and then arbitrarily moving to seek approval of the competent authority,” sources said.
In another case, the L-G returned the case of Narender Kumar, Junior Engineer of the PWD, seeking further substantive comments from the Administrative Department to ensure an informed decision in the matter, it stated.
“In another instance, exhibiting judicious application of mind, the L-G granted permission for the ACB enquiry against Arvind Kumar Nigam, Junior Engineer of the PWD, under Section 17 Act of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for demanding and accepting illegal gratification for clearing bills. Facts on file in the matter provided prima facie evidence that the JE demanded Rs. 2 lakh from a contractor for passing of a running bill for the work of construction of pavements of E-Type quarters in campus of GTB Hospital. The said contractor also transferred Rs 1,26,000 in the bank account of brother of the accused,” sources further added.
