Delhi Government Refers Rs 850 Crore Land Acquisition Scam to CBI

New Delhi: The Delhi government has taken decisive action by referring a significant Rs 850 crore land acquisition scam related to the Dwarka Expressway project to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This move comes in the wake of the preliminary report submitted by Delhi’s Vigilance Minister, Atishi, to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The report outlines alleged involvement of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in manipulating compensation awards for a land parcel in Bamnoli village. The aim was purportedly to provide undue profits to a company linked to Naresh Kumar’s son, Karan Chauhan. Sources suggest that a related 2015 land acquisition by the same company at a 7% circle rate has been referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigation into potential money laundering.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave the go-ahead for the referral to CBI and ED. The 670-page preliminary report points to various incriminating facts, indicating a prima facie appearance of complicity by Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar with DM Southwest Hemant Kumar and landowners involved in the Dwarka Expressway land acquisition.

The report also exposes a conspiracy by senior officers in Delhi’s Vigilance Department, including Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, to undervalue the scale of the scam. It suggests that the actual compensation award could have resulted in an illicit gain of Rs 850 crore to the beneficiaries, contrary to the initially stated amount of Rs 312 crore.

In her recommendations, Atishi proposes disciplinary proceedings against Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kumar. Furthermore, the Vigilance Minister suggests the immediate removal of both officials from their respective posts to prevent any potential influence on the ongoing probe.