Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, on Sunday, refused to consider a report from Vigilance Minister Atishi alleging ‘prima facie complicity’ of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in the Bamnoli land acquisition matter. The Lieutenant Governor stated that the report appears to be ‘completely based’ on the minister’s preconceived assumptions and presumptions.
In an official statement, Raj Niwas expressed, ‘I have received the ‘Preliminary Report’ on ‘Complaints,’ submitted by the Minister (Vigilance) and endorsed by the Chief Minister. It is surprising and unfortunate, to say the least, that this report, which deals with sensitive vigilance-related matters and has been marked to my Secretariat in a confidential cover, is already in the public domain. Its digital and electronic copies are freely available, and details thereof have been widely reported in the media.
Since selective text from the report has been purportedly leaked to the media, it appears prima facie that the whole motive of this supposed inquiry was not to unearth the truth but to start a media trial and politicize this whole issue, even as it is before the Supreme Court. One is forced to wonder whether the same doesn’t amount to creating a public perception of prejudice aimed at influencing the courts.
Saxena has also pointed out that the matter is already under investigation by the CBI, as approved by me based on the recommendations of the Chief Secretary and the Divisional Commissioner.
I have gone through the contents of this report. The Minister has herself recorded in her report on page 26 that this matter of an illegal and exorbitant land compensation award passed by Hemant Kumar, then DM, is already under criminal investigation by the CBI. It is pertinent to underline here that the said proposal for CBI investigation was approved by me based on the recommendations received from the Chief Secretary and the Divisional Commissioner themselves, he added.
He further sais that it has also come to my attention through media reports that the Chief Minister has referred the matter to the CBI and ED, which is beyond their competence as per the law established.